Official Spot it! Rules
Overview of Spot It!
There are 55 cards in the box. Every card shows 8 items, and between every pair of cards in the deck, there is exactly one item that will appear on both. In every variation of the game, players race to find the matches between two cards.
How to Play
In each mini game, the players will all play simultaneously. If the game ends and there is a tie, the two players will play a lightning round to determine the winner.
To begin the game, the first person is randomly chosen. This player will begin by drawing two random cards from the deck, placing them face up in the center of the playing area.
The players will examine the cards, trying to identify the matching symbol on each of the cards. The first player to identify the symbols, and yell it out, wins the mini game. Each mini game is worth one point and the winner of the mini game gets to choose the next mini game. The players decide at the beginning how many points it takes to win the "tournament".
No matter the game, you always need to be the fastest to spot the identical symbol between two cards, name it out loud and then take the card, place it or discard it depending on the rules of the mini-game you're currently playing.
Game #1: The Tower
Preparing the game: Shuffle the cards and deal one card face down to each player. The rest of the cards form the draw pile, which is placed face up in the center of the table.
Object of the game: Collect the most cards.
Playing the game: Each player must be the fastest at spotting the identical symbol between his or her card and the first card of the draw pile.
The first player to find the symbol names it, takes the card from the draw pile and places it in front of him or her, on top of his or her card. By taking this card, a new card is revealed. The game continues until all the cards from the draw pile have been drawn.
Game #2: The Well
Preparing the game: Place one card face up in the center of the table. Shuffle and deal the remaining cards evenly to all the players, keeping them facedown, forming their own personal draw piles.
Object of the game: To be the first player to get rid of all your cards.
Playing the game: On go, the players flip their draw pile face-up. Players must be faster than the others to discard the cards from their draw pile by placing them on the card in the middle. To do that, they have to name the identical symbol between the top card of their draw pile and the card in the middle. As the middle card changes as soon as a player places one of his or her cards on top of it, players must be quick.
Game #3: Hot Potato (Playing in Multiple Rounds)
Preparing the game: Shuffle the cards and deal one face down to each player. The remaining cards are set aside to be used later. Decide how many rounds you wish to play (five minimum).
Object of the game: To have the least amount of cards after all the rounds have been played. This is accomplished by getting rid of your cards during each round.
Playing the game: On go the players reveal their cards while making sure that all the symbols are clearly visible (the best way is to hold the card in your open hand, like in the image). As soon as a player finds the identical symbol between his card and an opponent's card, the player names it and places his or her card on the opponent's card. That opponent must now find the identical symbol between this new card and those of the remaining players. If that player manages to do so, all of his or her cards are given at once.
Game #4: The Poisoned Gift
Preparing the game: Shuffle the cards and deal one to each player. Those cards are placed face down in front of them. The remaining cards are placed in the middle of the table, face up, forming the draw pile.
Object of the game: To have the least number of cards.
Playing the game: On go, the players flip their card face-up. Each player must spot the identical symbol between the card of any other player and the card from the draw pile.
The first player to find an identical symbol names it, draws the middle card and places it on top of the concerned player's card. By taking this card, a new card is revealed. The mini-game continues until all the cards from the draw pile have been gained.
Game #5: Triplet
Preparing the game: Place all the cards face down in a pile.
Object of the game: To collect the most cards
Playing the game: One player takes the !rst 9 cards and places them face up on the table. Then, at the same time, all players try to find a matching symbol on any 3 cards. The same symbol must be present on all 3 cards to make a matching set. As soon as you find the matching symbol, call it out (example: "Sun!"), take the 3 cards you've won, and reload with 3 new cards.