XOK
XOK Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Overview
Players: 2. Game duration: around 15 min. Age: 8+.
Contents
- 1 fabric game board
- 12 Sharks (3x big with 2 mouths and 3x small with 1 mouth, in black and white)
- 28 Fish (14x black, 14x white)
Setup
Roll out the game board and place it in the center of the table. Choose a color and take the 6 Sharks and 14 Fish in that color, placing them in front of you. This is your supply.
How to Play
The player who chose white starts first and then you take turns, placing Fish and Sharks to form a chain of your color.
On your turn, choose one of the following two actions:
- Play 2 Fish
- Play 1 Shark
Playing 2 Fish
Place 2 Fish from your supply on 2 adjacent empty spaces anywhere on the game board. You cannot place your Fish on spaces that are already occupied. It doesn't matter which way round you place them.
Example: Mia chooses white and starts the game by choosing the action "Play 2 Fish." She places her 2 white Fish next to each other on 2 empty spaces. Then it's Robin's turn: He decides to play 2 of his black Fish.
Playing 1 Shark
You each begin the game with the same number of Sharks: 3 small Sharks with 1 mouth each, and 3 big Sharks with 2 mouths each. Your Sharks will eat your opponent's Fish. Choose a Shark from your supply and place it on the board, following these rules:
- Place your Shark either on an empty space, with its mouth(s) pointing toward an adjacent fish, or on top of your opponent's Fish to eat at least 1 of your opponent's Fish.
- Your Shark must be able to eat at least 1 of your opponent's Fish.
- You cannot place your Shark on top of 1 of your own Fish.
- Once you have played a Shark, it stays on that space until the end of the game.
Sharks cannot eat either other Sharks, or Fish of their own color. They only eat your opponent's Fish.
Eating Fish
If you play a Shark, it must eat at least 1 of your opponent's Fish.
The small Sharks only have 1 mouth, so they can eat 1 adjacent Fish.
The big Sharks have 2 mouths, so they can eat up to 2 adjacent Fish. Their only difference is the position of the big Sharks' mouth(s).
Additionally, a Shark eats the Fish on which it is placed. This means a small Shark can eat up to 2 Fish and a big Shark can eat up to 3 Fish. When a Fish is eaten, it returns to the supply of that color.
Note: If your Fish have been eaten, take them back to reuse on your next turn.
A Shark Can Eat in the Following Ways
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Placing a Shark on top of a Fish: When you place a small or a big Shark on an opponent's Fish, that Fish is immediately eaten.
Example: Robin plays a small black Shark. He places it directly on Mia's white Fish and eats it. Mia puts that white Fish back in her supply.
-
Eating Fish with its mouth: Place your Shark on an empty space of your choice, with its mouth pointing toward 1 of your opponent's adjacent Fish to eat it. A big Shark can eat 1 or 2 adjacent Fish this way. It eats any of your opponent's Fish that is directly in front of its mouth(s).
Example: Robin places his small black Shark on an empty space. It eats Mia's adjacent white Fish.
Example: Robin plays his big black Shark and points its 2 mouths toward the 2 white Fish. It eats both. The 2 Fish return to Mia's supply.
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Eating Fish both ways: You can combine both ways of eating Fish by placing your Shark on an opponent's Fish while pointing its mouth(s) at 1 or 2 of your opponent's adjacent Fish. Your Shark will eat all these Fish. A small Shark can eat up to 2 Fish and a big Shark can eat up to 3 Fish by combining both ways.
Reminder: Your Shark must eat at least 1 Fish when you play it.
Example: Robin places his small Shark on Mia's white Fish with the mouth pointing toward another white Fish. This way, Robin's small Shark can eat 2 white Fish.
Example: Mia uses a big Shark with mouths on either side. Her Shark eats the black Fish that it is placed on, plus the 2 black Fish toward which its mouths are pointing.
Tip: There are situations in which you may not want your Shark to eat all the Fish it could. For example: If you don't want to free up spaces that your opponent could use.
End of Game
The game ends as soon as one player forms a chain of at least 10 Fish and Sharks. That player wins the game.
Example: Mia was the first to form her chain of 10 Fish and Sharks, so wins the game.
Note: If one player is unable to play a valid move, but neither player has managed to form a chain of 10 Fish and Sharks, the game ends and the player with the longest chain wins. In case of a tie, the winner is the one with the most sharks in their longest chain. If there is still a tie, you both win.
Did you know? Black and white pilot fish are not afraid of sharks. They actually swim alongside them and rid them of parasites.