Star Catcher

How to Play

Balance luck and skill to catch and collect your way to a stellar victory!

Ages 8+
Players 2–4
Play time 15–30 min
Download the PDF

Contents

64 Cards

  • 36 Diamond Cards
  • 12 Circle Cards
  • 4 Magnet Cards
  • 12 Bonus Cards

Get to Know Your Deck

Not all cards are created equal!

Diamond Cards

Have numbers. Many have stars! You can catch them with a Match, a Sum, or a Magnet Card.

Circle Cards

Also have numbers. Many have stars! But unlike Diamond Cards, Magnet Cards cannot catch them. You can only catch these with a Match or a Sum.

Magnet Cards

Special! Magnet Cards catch every Diamond Card on the table.

Bonus Cards

Rewards for clearing the table. Each Bonus Card gives a star!

Setting Up a Round

  1. Sort

    Separate the Bonus Cards and place them in a stack within reach.

  2. Shuffle

    Shuffle the deck — all Magnet Cards, Diamond Cards, and Circle Cards.

  3. Deal to the table

    Deal 4 cards face up to the center of the table. If a Magnet Card is dealt to the table, bury it in the middle of the deck and replace it with the top card of the deck.

  4. Deal to the players

    Deal 4 cards to each player face down. This is everyone's starting hand. Players may pick up and look at their hand.

  5. Set aside the deck

    Place the remaining deck aside. You won't need it until everyone has played their starting hand.

Playing a Turn

The player to the dealer's left goes first. On your turn, place one card from your hand face up on the table and check for a catch. Does your card Match or Sum any cards on the table?

Match

If your card matches a number on the table — exact same number, circle or diamond does not matter — take the card you played and the matching card. Place both face down in front of you. This is your score pile.

Table
You play
Your 9 matches the 9 on the table. Take both cards.

Sum

If your card equals the sum of two or more cards on the table, take the card you played and all the summed cards. Place them face down in your score pile.

Table
You play
4 + 2 = 6, so your 6 catches both. Take all three cards.

You may not play two cards from your hand to take one card from the table.

Magnet Card

If your card is a Magnet Card, take it and all the Diamond Cards on the table, face down into your score pile. If there are no Diamond Cards on the table, simply place the Magnet Card in your score pile.

Table
You play
The Magnet takes every Diamond Card. The Circle Cards stay on the table.

Leave on Table

If there are no cards on the table, or your card does not match or sum any cards, leave your card face up on the table. It and every other card on the table are available for others to catch.

Table
You play
No match and no sum — your 7 stays on the table.

Clear the Table

If you catch all the cards on the table, take a Bonus Card and place it in your score pile. If there are no Bonus Cards left, you do not receive one.

Table
You play
You earn
3 + 5 = 8 clears the table, so you take a Bonus Card too.

Continuing a Round

Players take turns playing one card at a time. Once all players have played their starting hand:

  • Deal. The dealer deals a new hand of 4 cards to each player from the deck. Do not deal more cards to the table.
  • Rotate the start. The starting player for the new hand moves clockwise.
  • Repeat. Continue until the deck is empty and all cards have been played.

Ending a Round & Scoring

The round ends when the deck runs out and players have played all their cards. Cards remaining on the table are not scored. Sort your score pile and tally up your points:

1 point

Per star, including the star on Bonus Cards.

3 points

To the player — or players, if tied — who collected the most non-star cards, including Magnet Cards.

End of Game

Play as many rounds as there are players. The player with the highest total score wins! In case of a tie, play another round.

Questions

Can I play two cards from my hand to catch a card on the table?
No. Only play one card per turn.
Can I subtract numbers?
No. You can only add (sum) or match.
Can I choose not to catch if I play a card that matches or sums cards on the table?
No, you must catch the matching or summing cards. But you can choose to play a card that does not match or sum cards on the table.
What happens to the cards left over on the table at the end of a hand?
Nothing. They remain on the table going into the next hand.
What if I can catch multiple different cards?
This happens fairly often. If you can catch different cards, you get to choose which card or cards you want to catch.