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Official Candy Land Rules

Candy Land is a classic board game designed for young children. It's a simple racing game where players move their pieces along a colorful path to reach the end first. Here's how to play:

candy land board game box

Game Overview

The objective is to reach the Candy Castle at the end of the path by moving your piece according to the cards you draw. Gameplay is individual, meaning players' actions do not directly impact others. The game requires minimal reading and has easy-to-follow rules, making it accessible to young children.
 

Setup

  1. Lay the game board flat on a table or surface.

  2. Each player selects one of the four game pieces to represent them on the board.

  3. Shuffle the candy cards and place them face down within reach of all players.

  4. The youngest player starts the game, and play proceeds clockwise.
     

Gameplay

  1. Drawing a Card:
    At the start of each turn, draw one card from the candy deck.

    • Single Color Block: Move your piece forward to the nearest square of the matching color.

    • Double Color Block: Move forward to the second square of the matching color.

    • Picture Card: Move your piece to the space on the board that matches the image, whether forward or backward.

  2. Movement Rules:

    • Always follow the direction of the signposts on the board.

    • To use one of the two shortcuts, land exactly on the shortcut’s entry point. If you do, move directly to the shortcut’s exit. You cannot move backward into a shortcut.

  3. Special Spaces:

    • Licorice Space: If you land on a licorice space, you lose your next turn. Play resumes as normal after the forfeited turn.

  4. Winning:

    • The first player to reach the Candy Castle at the end of the path wins the game.
       

Special Rules for Younger Players

If younger players become frustrated by moving backward:

  • You can allow movement only in the forward direction.

  • However, this adjustment changes the spirit of the game, as it removes the challenge of adapting to setbacks. Decide based on your group’s needs.
     

Speed Play Variant

For faster gameplay:

  • On each turn, draw two cards instead of one. Choose the card that benefits you the most, then discard both.

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