Shuppa 2024

Shuppa is a card-collecting game in which you try to collect as many cards as possible by matching lollipops of the same color, Candy Crush-style.

To set up, each player gets a hand of seven number cards (which come in four colors) and two action cards. Two rows of number cards are laid out, with each row having three cards more than the number of players.

The game lasts seven rounds. In the first round, reveal three number cards from the reserve. Each player then chooses and reveals a card, marking it with their player token, with all cards then being placed in a row above the existing cards. Players then claim any group of at least three cards in the same color if the card they played is part of this group. (Player order is determined at random by the left or right arrow on top of the card deck.) After a group is claimed, drop any cards that have an empty space underneath them, which might possibly create a new group that is claimed by the active player. If a player doesn't claim a group, they take an action card from the deck. Place a number card from the reserve at the bottom of any empty column.

The next six rounds play out similarly: Reveal three number cards; everyone plays a number card, then claims a group, if possible. Now, though, anyone who doesn't claim a group can either draw an action card or play an action card. The action cards let you "eat" a card from the play area to score it, move a card to another column, or swap two cards. Ideally these actions will let you score groups.

After seven rounds, tally your score, with multicolor cards being worth 2 points and every other card 1 point.