Loony Clues Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Game Contents
• Game Setup
• Gameplay
• End of the Round
• Scoring

Game Contents

• 1 Party board
• 6 Player boards
• 100 Mask cards
• 60 Clue cards
• 12 Secret Identity cards
• 72 Guess cards (12 of each color)

Game Setup

1. Shuffle the Mask cards and place 12 of them face up on the Party board in a 3×4 grid (numbered 1 to 12) where all players can see them. Note: These are the possible disguises for each player.
2. Each player takes a Player board and a set of 12 colored Guess cards.
3. Shuffle the Clue cards and place them into a clue deck next to the Party board.
4. Each player draws a starting hand of 4 Clue cards.
5. Each player draws a Secret Identity card.
6. Determine your Secret Identity by matching the card's number to the disguise number on the Party board.
7. Place the Secret Identity card face down on your Player board.

Note: Be careful not to let any other player see the number on your Secret Identity card.

Whoever partied most recently goes first!

Gameplay

1. On your turn, choose a word from any clue card in your hand and ask any target player (not yourself) if the chosen word describes their Secret Identity.

The target player places the Clue card under the top or bottom of their player board:

• Under the top if they believe the clue accurately describes their Secret Identity.
• Under the bottom if they believe the clue does not accurately describe their Secret Identity.

Place Clue cards so they are always visible to all players.

Note: There are no "official" answers regarding the accuracy of a clue. Players answer according to their own understanding, but they earn points when other players guess their Identity correctly.

2. After playing a Clue card, you may choose to trigger a guess.

Based on the clues from previous turns, you guess the Secret Identity of the target player by choosing a number card from your personal deck of Guess cards. Place it face down to hide its value from other players.

Example: Emma plays the "moving" clue card to ask Dave if "moving" accurately describes their Secret Identity.

Emma thinks Dave is a chainsaw and is trying to support this hypothesis.

Example: Dave confirms the hypothesis and slides the card under the upper part of their player board with the clue word visible. Now Emma is almost sure!

A guess will be considered correct if the number on your Guess card matches the number on the target's Secret Identity card at the end of the round. If this is the first time any player has guessed that target's Identity, place the Guess card on the right side of the target's Player board. Otherwise, place it on the left side of their Player board.

A correct guess on the right side is worth 4 points, but a correct guess on the left side is worth 2 points.

After you trigger a guess, other players may follow. They place their Guess card on the same side of the Player board as your Guess card. This is the only way for other players to earn 4 points for a correct guess. Other players may also wait to make their guess, but they will only earn 2 points for a correct guess.

Example: After Emma plays the "moving" Clue card, they also decide to trigger a guess. They guess Dave is a chainsaw. The chainsaw mask card is on the number 12 slot of the Party board, so Emma places their number 12 Guess card next to Dave's Player board. They are the first to guess Dave's Identity this round, so they place the card on the right side of the Player board.

Selma decides to follow the trigger a guess action. This is the only chance to gain 4 points for guessing Dave correctly. Selma takes a risk and places their number 8 Guess card to the right side of Dave's Player board alongside Emma's Guess card.

The other players decide to wait and guess later in the round.

Each player may only guess a player's Identity once per round. Your Guess card cannot be returned or replaced until the end of the round.

At the end of your turn, you may discard one of the Clue cards in your hand. Then, draw Clue cards until you have 4 cards in your hand. Next, play passes to the following player in clockwise order.

The game continues clockwise until the end of the round is triggered.

End of the Round

When a player has placed a Guess card for each of their opponents, the round ends immediately at the start of that player's next turn.

Every other player places a Guess card next to each Player board without their Guess card. These cards are placed on the left side of the Player boards as normal.

Example: Emma has a Guess card next to each other player's board at the start of their turn, so the round ends immediately.

The other players place a Guess card to the left of each Player board still missing their Guess card — without a Guess card next to Dave's Player board, Eric and Grace now place one with the hope of gaining 2 points.

Scoring

After each player has their Guess card next to each other Player's board, tally up each player's score. Each player reveals the Guess cards next to their Player board and then their Secret Identity card (it's more fun in this order).

• Score points for each correct guess.
  • Score 4 points if your Guess card is on the right (primary guesses).
  • Score 2 points if your Guess card is on the left (secondary guesses).
• Score 0 points for each incorrect guess.
• Score extra points equal to the number of players who correctly guessed your Secret Identity.
  • Players who incorrectly guessed your Identity do not affect your score.

Record each player's total score for the round. Start the next round by discarding all of the Clue cards, Secret Identity cards, and Mask cards. After returning all of the Guess cards, repeat the steps in the Game setup section (pg. 3). At the end of the third round, the game ends. The player with the highest total from the three rounds is crowned the ultimate party champion!

Example: After the round ends, each player checks to see who correctly guessed their Secret Identity, starting with Dave.

Dave reveals all the Guess cards next to their board.

Two people guessed a chainsaw, one guessed a horse, and one guessed a microscope!

Example: After the Guess cards are revealed, Dave reveals their Secret Identity card. Oh no! Dave was a microscope! Only Eric gains 2 points for correctly guessing Dave's Identity.

Dave also gains a point for the one correct guess next to their Player board.

Example: Emma guessed Eric and Grace correctly, each for 4 points. They also guessed Selma correctly, but later in the round for only 2 points. However, Emma guessed Dave wrong, so that guess earns 0 points. Two people correctly guessed Emma was an onion for 2 more points! Emma gains a total of 12 points (4 + 4 + 2 + 0 + 2) for this round.

Tip: Keep all the Guess cards organized to help everyone know where they already placed their cards and when the round might end!