Objective

Out-geek your opponents by out-bidding and completing challenges in a variety of categories! Steal and score points by being able to complete bigger lists than your opponents, but don't bid too high or you could end up losing points in the end. Reach the Finish before your opponents do to win the game!

Topics

Each topic conforms to one of these categories: Games, Comics, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Miscellaneous.

Each topic states the minimum number of items a player must list to complete the challenge. For example, if the challenge states, "Two Songs About Animals" then a player must name at least two to fulfill the requirement. Of course other players may bid higher and attempt to list more.

Play

Players may plan one-on-one, or divide into teams. Teams are suggested with games of 8 or more players, and you can play with any number of teams.

Select one player (or team) to go first, who then rolls the die to determine their challenge category. In the case of a blank roll, that player gets to choose any category that they desire, before hearing the topics listed on the card. The opponents to the player's right then draws the top card and reads aloud the corresponding challenge. The player states clearly if they accept the minimum bid as listed on the card, or if they would like to increase it by bidding a higher total. Bluffing is encouraged!

Once the original player has made their bid, the option to bid passes to the next player, clockwise. That player may pass or bid higher, but may not bid the same number stated by the previous player. Players who wish to pass should indicate this by turning their chip to the "no" position when it's their turn to bid or pass, to help the bidding process move more smoothly. This continues in clockwise order until all players have passed, except for the last player to bid. The bidding process may take several rounds to get to this point. The highest bidder must then attempt to successfully complete the challenge.

Example: It's John's turn, and he rolls the die getting the blue Comic Books category. Bill, the player to John's right, draws a card and reads John his challenge: "Four Iconic Comic Book Weapons." John can state, "I can list four," but being a comic book fan, he decides instead to raise the stakes, claiming, "I can name six." The option to bid higher passes on to the next player in either case. Beth, the player to John's left, states that she can name eight. Lisa doesn't want to risk losing a point and decides to pass. This bidding process continues clockwise until all players have passed except one.

Once bidding is complete and the challenge has been accepted, the last player to bid may now attempt to complete their list.

Note: No serials are allowed in a valid list. For example, if Back to the Future is listed, then Back to the Future Part 2 cannot be listed. For more details about appropriate lists, refer to the House Rules and the Glossary.

If the challenge is completed successfully, the player who accomplished it earns 1 point. If the challenge is failed, the player who attempted it loses two points (see Scoring).

On the rare occasion that no one bids above the minimum number listed on the card, no penalty will be given if the challenge is not completed successfully. The original player can still attempt to list the minimum number, but won't be penalized if they fail. If they succeed, they still receive one point.

Play then passes to the left (clockwise) of the last player to roll the die, and the process is repeated.

End of the Game

The game ends once any player reaches a total score of 5 points. For a shorter or longer experience, you can adjust the amount of points needed to win the game.

Scoring

Players will earn 1 point each time they complete a challenge and -2 point each time they are unable to complete a challenge. The first player to reach a total of 5 points has successfully out-geeked their opponents to win the game!

House Rules

This is a party game that encourages debate and discussion. Players may campaign as to why they believe an answer is valid. Some challenges on the card are more vague than others, specifically to elicit a wider range of possible answers.

Players are encouraged to get creative when answering! See the glossary for terms that pop up frequently in the game. We recommend that you use this only as a general guide, however, and let your group decided amongst itself which answers it deems appropriate. We also suggest that you set up parameters regarding the bidding process before your game begins, such as allowing players only 10 seconds to either bid or pass, or to only write lists on paper when working as a team.

Topics listed in specific categories are intended to be composed of responses that fall only in those specific categories. For example, in the Movies category, the topic "Four Teen Actresses of the 1980s" is meant to have players list only teen actresses who appeared in movies/films that were released in the 1980s, rather than teen actresses who had only appeared on TV shows, commercials, etc, in the 1980s. However this can be left up the House Rules determined at the beginning of the game.

Glossary

Games

Unspecified, games can refer to games of any sort, including traditional tabletop board and card games, role-playing games, or video games. If specified, however, the list given must comply with the specification. For example, if the challenge is to list video games, then a tabletop card game may not be included.

Tabletop Games

A tabletop game is a game that can be played in person with other opponents without the use of a computer or console, regardless of whether or not a table is used. This designation is to mark a distinction between traditional tabletop games and video games (or online role-playing games) and console games.

Comics

For the purposes of game play, comics include comic books, graphic novels, comic strips, manga, and anime. For the purposes of game play, the term comic book includes any US, European, or western comic book or graphic novel and Manga includes any Asian or eastern comic book, graphic novel or animated cartoon. A graphic novel is a fictional story that is presented in comic-strip format and published as a book.

Sci-Fi

For the purposes of game play, this genre contains materials, books, television shows and films set in a science fiction setting that includes futuristic themes and technology, space travel, alien races, undiscovered fictional technology and the like. Examples of science fiction would be: Star Trek, The Time Machine, Dr. Who, and Red Dwarf. A debatable science fiction franchise would be Star Wars, but for game play purposes, we would place it as science fiction to comply with the above rules. All debates should be settled by a vote of the players and committed to future house rules.

Robots

Any robotic creature, including droids. A cyborg is not a robot.

Fantasy

For the purposes of game play, this genre contains materials, books, television shows and films which take place in a fantasy setting that includes recreationist/fictional history, magical elements, fictional creatures and the like. Examples of fantasy would be: The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, King Arthur, and Dragonlance. A debatable fantasy franchise would be Masters of the Universe, but for game play purposes, we would place it as fantasy to comply with the above rules. All debates should be settled by a vote of the players and committed to future house rules.

Series/Serials

A serial is any series of films, books, etc. that belong to each other in parts, sequels, trilogies or more. No serials are allowed in a valid list. For example, if Back to the Future is listed, then Back to the Future Part 2 cannot be listed. Spin-offs are allowed in a valid list (see Spin-offs). Reboots are considered part of a serial. For example, the film Batman and the film The Dark Knight Rises are considered serials and may not be used together in a valid list.

Spin-offs

A spin-off is a book, television show, or film that is derived from another with an alternate story line and/or cast. Spin-offs ARE allowed in a valid list. For example, if Buffy the Vampire Slayer is listed, then Angel may be listed too.

Franchise

A franchise is any well-known intellectual property that has been created into a combination of books, films, television shows, games, and merchandise.

Named

A named item is one that actually has a name. For example, if the challenge is to list a named fantasy sword, then "Excalibur" would be valid, but "King Arthur's Sword" would not. Unnamed items, like "the swords the Orcs carry in The Lord of the Rings" are also not allowed.