The Same Game
The Same Game Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 1 game board
- 1 score marker
- 9 number tiles (Front: Number, Back: Trap)
- 1 bag
- 6 writeable tableaus
- 2 level overview cards
- 9 cups
- 6 wipeable pens
- 165 object cards
- 1 game length overview card
- 15 category cards
Aim of the Game
In The Same Game, you play together as a team.
In the game, you compare 2 objects in relation to different categories. As a result, you gradually remove cups that are next to the categories on display. You score points as long as you do not uncover the trap. If you have correctly selected a category, you can place its cup on the next available space on the score track.
If you reach the medal area at the end of the game, you win The Same Game.
Setup
- Put the game board on the table and place the score marker on the position of the scoreboard that corresponds to the number of people playing.
- Have each player take 1 tableau and 1 pen.
- Place the game length overview card in front of you according to your number of players. Then take the level overview cards and decide which level you want to play. The levels differ in the number and difficulty of the categories on display.
For the first game, we recommend that you start with level 1.
Level of difficulty — given number of category cards
| Level | ○ (blue) | □ (orange) | ▽ (green) | ◇ (purple) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Level 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Level 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Level 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
- Sort the categories by their backs and shuffle all the piles well separately. Draw the given number of ○ blue, ▽ green, □ orange- and ◇ purple categories and lay them out open in a row below the game board.
- Put the following number tiles in the bag, depending on the chosen level of difficulty:
Level 1: 1 - 6 | Level 2: 1 - 7 | Level 3: 1 - 8 | Level 4: 1 - 9
- Place 1 cup next to each category on the table.
Note: Depending on the level, 0 to 3 cups remain. Place the remaining cups on the score track, in the middle of the board, starting with "-2". These cups are not used and remain there throughout the game.
- Shuffle all the object cards. Each player draws 1 object card and looks at it secretly. Without looking at it, place exactly 1 object card face down on the corresponding space on the game board.
In a 3-and-4-player game, place the remaining object cards as a draw pile ready for the second round. Otherwise, put the cards back in the box with the rest of the game material. You will not need them in this game.
Now you can start!
Phase 1: The Same
Everyone will find out which category contains the hidden trap during their turn.
1. Write down the number
One after the other, each player takes hold of the bag once. Whoever has the bag performs the following actions:
- Draw a number tile from the bag.
- Secretly write down the number from the tile on your personal tableau.
- Put the number tile back into the bag.
- Pass the bag to the next person.
Keep doing this until everyone has written down a number.
2. Assign a number tile to the categories
Now take all the number tiles out of the bag and place 1 random tile face up next to each category.
3. Determine the personal trap
Now look inconspicuously for the category that is next to the number you wrote down. In this way, you have been assigned your personal category, behind which the trap will be located during your turn.
As everyone placed their drawn number tile back into the bag during this phase, it is possible that several players have the same number tile and therefore the same trap category.
Next, prepare your clue for the team to help prevent them from falling into the trap.
Everyone thinks about a clue at the same time.
Now think of an object and write it on your tableau. The object should be as similar as possible in your trap category to the object on your object card. In this way, you help alert your team to the position of the trap. Finally, place your own object card face down on top of the object you just wrote down to keep both secret until your own turn.
Note: Pay attention to the rules for selecting objects at page 7 of these rules.
Example
During setup, you drew the tile with the "2" and wrote it on your tableau. Then the "2" was assigned to the category "length". The category "length" is therefore the trap during your turn and should not be revealed by your team. The other categories on display are: Appearance, Importance to Humanity, Material, Price and Weight.
You have drawn the term "yoga mat" as an object card. You now think of an object that has the same length as a yoga mat, if possible, to point out to your team the trap behind the category "length".
Good clue: A good clue would be "refrigerator", for example, because it has a similar length as a yoga mat. In addition, a refrigerator clearly differs from a yoga mat in the other categories Appearance, Importance to Humanity, Material, Price and Weight.
Bad clue: An example of a bad clue would be "air mattress". It has a similar length as a yoga mat, but it also has a similar price and weight as a yoga mat. In addition, the categories Appearance and Importance to Humanity cannot be completely ruled out.
After you have written the chosen object on your tableau, you continue with Phase 2: The Game.
Swap Object Card
As a team, you have the opportunity to exchange a drawn object card exactly once during the game. If you want to do this, you consult with your team and first put your own object card back in the box. Then you take the object card that is lying face down on the game board. You do not know the newly drawn object and may only swap the card once for the entire game. The card slot is not refilled, not even in a later round.
Phase 2: The Game
Set the trap and read out your clue.
The most curious person starts. Then the game continues in a clockwise direction.
At the beginning of your turn, every other player in your team closes their eyes.
Turn over your number tile (in our example, the "2") so that the trap is now visible. Then place a cup on top of each number tile to cover all the tiles.
Note: Always start at one end and then cover one tile at a time so that no cup noises will reveal the approximate position of your trap.
Once you have finished, ask your team to open their eyes again.
Now show your team your two objects: One is the given object on your card, the other is the object you wrote down. From now on, you are not allowed to make any comments or gestures that could give your team any hints.
Now your team discusses which categories are not the trap.
Note: Your task is to find the categories in which the two objects differ. The trap, i.e. the category in which the two objects are similar, is best not revealed at all.
Remove the cups and check your assessment.
Agree on a category together and remove the cup from the number tile.
Right — Is there a number on the number tile? Very good! You have correctly excluded this category. Place the cup on the next available scoring space. Continue with the next category!
Wrong — Can you see the trap on the number tile? Bad luck, the trap is sprung and you are unfortunately not allowed to place this cup on the next scoring space. The current turn ends immediately for you.
Repeat this process until you have either uncovered all the number tiles or have fallen into the trap. Then continue to the end of the turn.
Note: It is not important to guess the trap category right away. It is best to start with the categories where you think there is a clear difference between the two objects and remove these cups first. Then, step by step, move on to the categories where you are unsure.
End of a turn and start of the next
A turn ends as soon as you have successfully uncovered all the number tiles or removed the cup revealing the trap. The next free number on the score track that is not covered by a cup indicates how many steps you may move your score marker on the scoreboard.
The next person sitting clockwise will start the next turn by turning the trap back to its number side, removing any remaining cups from the number tiles and taking the cups from the scoring spaces.
Then they will start their turn!
Everyone's clues have been played
Once you have dealt with all the objects from the team, the round will end.
The game with 5 or 6 people ends after 1 round. In the game with 3 or 4 people, play one additional full round.
| Players | Rounds | Objects played |
|---|---|---|
| 3 people | 2 rounds | Play a total of 6 objects. |
| 4 people | 2 rounds | Play a total of 8 objects. |
| 5 people | 1 round | Play a total of 5 objects. |
| 6 people | 1 round | Play a total of 6 objects. |
Start a new round (only in the 3 and 4 player games)
To prepare a new round, clean your tableaus, put the number tiles back in the bag and repeat all the steps from Phase 1: The Same. Then play the new round as described in Phase 2: The Game.
Attention: If you have already swapped the object card in the first round, the empty card slot is not refilled (see Phase 1: Swap Object Card at page 5).
Two Player Game
Note: If two people want to play The Same Game, this is possible without changing the rules. To do this, place your score marker on the space for 3/6 players at the beginning of the game and then play 3 rounds (i.e. a total of 6 objects).
End of the Game
The game ends as soon as you have played the given number of objects.
You can see how well you did on the scoreboard:
| Result | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Every space before the bouquet | That was ... well, it was "okay"! Maybe you should try an easier level first ...? |
| Bouquet | You can pat each other on the back with encouragement. You didn't win, but you were close! |
| Bronze | You won the game and you can be proud of your team's performance, but there's still some room for improvement. |
| Silver | That was impressive. You won! Play again straight away - and then you'll surely win gold! |
| Gold | Yeah! You have won and crushed it! Off to the next, more difficult level! |
Rules for Selecting Objects
- The object you write down must be an object you can touch. Only man-made objects are valid. Plants, animals, clouds, water, etc. are not allowed.
- You may not use numbers.
- Apart from the object, no additional word, such as an adjective, may be used.
- The object must not contain any material: So a cooking spoon would be a valid clue but a wooden cooking spoon would not.
- The object may be a compound word as long as you could also find the word in this form in an english dictionary.
In general, if you have the feeling that you are "cheating" with your clue, then you are probably cheating.
Overview of the Categories
The ○ Category
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | The external appearance of the object. |
| Frequency worldwide | The quantity of the object occurring worldwide in the present. |
| Length | The length of the longest side of the object. |
| Material | The materials from which the object is made. |
| Price | The purchase price of the object. |
| Intended use | The application for which the object is intended. |
The □ Category
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Movement | The movement of the object can be derived from parts of the object moving (e.g. a cuckoo clock), a person moving it (e.g. rocking horse) or it being used with a typical movement (e.g. putting a phone to your ear). |
| Complexity of the structure | How complex is the construction of the object? It does not refer to the production of the object. |
| Importance for humanity | How bad would it be for all humanity if the object no longer existed tomorrow? |
The ▽ Category
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Explanation effort | The amount of information needed to use this object properly. How extensive would the instructions be that would accompany this object? |
| Duration of use | The duration of use from the beginning to the end of an active use. It does not refer to the duration of use over the entire life of the object. |
| Frequency of use | The average number of days per year that the object is used. |
The ◇ Category
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Weight | The weight of the object |
| Height of the lying object | The height of the object placed so that it has the least height. |
| Volume | How much space does the object take up? |
Brief Overview
Place the game length card in front of you according to the number of players. Then take the level overview cards and set up the game for your selected level.
Phase 1: The Same
Find out which category contains the hidden trap during your turn.
- Draw number tiles from the bag and write down the number.
- Place the number tiles next to the categories.
- Determine your personal trap.
Everyone thinks of a clue at the same time.
Think of an object that is as similar as possible in your trap category to the object on your card and write it on your tableau.
Phase 2: The Game
The most curious person starts. The rest of the team closes their eyes.
- Turn over your number tile so that the trap is visible.
- Cover all the number tiles with a cup.
- The team opens their eyes again.
- Present your object card and your noted object to your team.
- Your team discusses which category they want to exclude.
- Remove the cup of the selected category and check its assessment.
Right: If you see a number on the number tile, you have correctly excluded the category. Place the cup on the next available scoring space on the game board. Continue with the next category.
Wrong: If you see the trap on the tile, the trap is sprung and you are unfortunately not allowed to place this cup on the next scoring space. The current turn ends for you.
End of a turn and start of the next.
- When all the number tiles are revealed or the trap is sprung, the round ends.
- Move your score marker the number of spaces according to the space indicated on the scoreboard.
- The next person clockwise takes their turn and starts a new round.
End of the game
The game ends as soon as you have played a given number of objects.
You can see how well you did on the score table.
Credits
Designer: Wolfgang Warsch Illustration: Christian Schupp Layout: Fiore GmbH Realisation: Michael Schmitt Editors: Kaddy Arendt, Andreas Langkamp Translation: Vanessa Abel Support: Cyrill Callenius
© 2023 Edition Spielwiese
Distribution: Pegasus Spiele GmbH