Pack the Essentials is the newest game in the Wacky Wizard Games product line!
How many cats will fit in your suitcase? There is only one way to find out!
Every cat owner knows there is only one rule when packing for a trip – whether for business or pleasure, never forget to pack the cats!
In the Pack the Essentials game, players take on the role of travelers who want to bring as many of their trusty felines with them as possible. Lure cats into your luggage with Pack Rat toys, do your best to fill your suitcase with matching colors, and make sure not to forget about your To-Do Lists before you head out the door! Scroll down for more about how the game plays!
Game Setup
- Each player chooses a cat meeple and a matching suitcase.
- You’ll draft polyomino-shaped tiles that represent clothing, accessories, and cats, trying to create the most efficient and colorful packing arrangement.
- At the start, three to-do lists are selected, giving players bonus scoring opportunities based on in-game tasks.
Gameplay Mechanics
- Drafting Polyomino Tiles:
Players take turns selecting polyomino-shaped tiles from a shared pool. These tiles represent clothing items, accessories (like socks and pom poms), and even cats. Your goal is to strategically fit these tiles into your suitcase and maximize color groupings for bigger points! - Packing Your Suitcase:
As you pack your suitcase, you’ll want to group clothing tiles of the same color. The larger the group, the more points you score! You’ll need to think ahead to place tiles in such a way that you’ll create the largest possible groupings. - Fitting Cats into Your Suitcase:
You can also “pack” cats by using Pack Rat tokens. For each cat you successfully fit into your suitcase, you score 5 points. Make sure the cats are packed strategically and within color groups to maximize your points! - To-Do Lists for Bonus Points:
Completing tasks from your to-do list can earn you extra points! For example, you can score for filling entire columns with items, having cats near the edge of your suitcase, or grouping cats with pom poms.
End of Game & Scoring
The Pack the Essentials game ends after 12 rounds, and it’s time to tally up your points. You’ll score for:
- Color Groupings (larger connected groups of matching tiles earn more points).
- Cats (5 points for each cat packed into your suitcase).
- To-Do List Bonuses (extra points for completing specific tasks like filling columns or having cats near pom poms).
The player with the most points wins!
Solo Mode – Play as the Cat Lady
In Pack the Essentials solo mode, you become the Cat Lady, tasked with packing your suitcase while trying to hit specific point goals. The twist? You’re up against yourself! You’ll use the Cat Lady deck to introduce new challenges, including placing tiles in restricted areas and working towards unique scoring conditions. Can you achieve your point goals and pack the ultimate suitcase?
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