The Mind Official Rules
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The Mind is a cooperative card game that pushes the boundaries of mental connection and strategy. Here's how to play:
Objective
The goal of The Mind is to collectively play cards in ascending order without communicating verbally or signaling to each other.
Components
100 cards numbered 1 to 100
Life cards
Level cards
Throwing star cards
Setup
Place the Level cards in a stack in the center of the table. For a game with 2 players, start at Level 1. For 3 players, start at Level 2. For 4 players, start at Level 3.
Place a number of Life cards equal to the number of players in the center of the table.
Place one Throwing star card in the center of the table.
Shuffle the 100 number cards.
Gameplay
Dealing Cards: For each level, deal each player a number of cards equal to the current level (e.g., one card each for Level 1, two cards each for Level 2, and so on).
Starting the Level: All players must place their cards face down in front of them. When everyone is ready, the game begins.
Playing Cards: Without communicating, players play their cards one by one in ascending order. The player who thinks they have the lowest card plays first. After a card is played, the next lowest card must be played.
Mistakes: If a player plays a card and another player has a lower card in their hand, a mistake occurs. The team loses one Life card, and all cards lower than the one played must be revealed and discarded. Play continues with the remaining cards.
Throwing Star: Any player can propose using the Throwing star. If all players agree, each player discards their lowest card face up. The Throwing star is then discarded.
Completing a Level: If the team successfully plays all cards in ascending order without losing all Life cards, they complete the level and advance to the next one.
Winning and Losing
Winning: The team wins if they successfully complete all levels.
Losing: The team loses if they lose all Life cards before completing the final level.
Advanced Rules
Additional Throwing Stars: At specific levels (e.g., Levels 3, 5, and 7), the team gains additional Throwing stars.
Increasing Difficulty: The game becomes more challenging with higher levels as more cards are dealt to each player.
The Mind is a unique and challenging game that fosters a deep level of cooperation and concentration among players. It's more than just a card game; it's a mental exercise that tests the limits of human connection.
