Gobblet

Objective of the Game

The objective of Gobblet is to be the first player to align four of your Gobblets in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally on the board. It is a strategic game with similarities to Tic-Tac-Toe but introduces more depth by stacking pieces.

Components

• A square game board with 4x4 fields
• 24 Gobblets in two different colors: Each player has 12 Gobblets in their color, in three different sizes (four of each size)

Setup

1. Each player selects a color and takes all Gobblets of that color.
2. The Gobblets are stacked by size, so each player has three stacks (one per size).
3. The empty board is placed between the players.

Gameplay

1. Choose Starting Player: Players decide who begins using a random mechanism (e.g., coin toss) or the winner of the previous game starts.
2. Player Turn: In your turn, a player can either:
3. Place a new Gobblet from your reserve onto an empty field on the board.
4. Move one of your Gobblets already on the board.
5. ‘Gobble’ a smaller Gobblet by placing it on top of another Gobblet.
   • Note: A Gobblet can only be moved if there are no hidden pieces underneath it.
6. At the end of the turn, check if a player has aligned four of their Gobblets in a row.

Special Rules

• Gobblets cannot be moved onto your own visible Gobblets to extend your turn.
• Hidden Layers: Players must remember which Gobblets are hidden to make strategic decisions.
• Once a player completes their move, they cannot change the positions of the Gobblets.

Winning the Game and Strategy

• The game ends when a player successfully aligns four Gobblets in a row in their color.
• Strategic Tips:
• Confuse your opponent by using Gobblets to hide strong positions.
• Keep track of hidden opposing objects on the board.
• Block threatening moves of the opponent while trying to build your own line.

Gobblet is simple enough for children yet offers enough depth to challenge adults seeking strategic play.