Objective of the Game
The goal of Mole Rats in Space is to cooperatively team up to gather all essential equipment and safely reach the escape pod before the aggressive snakes on the spaceship bite the mole rats or other obstacles thwart their efforts.
Game Components
- A game board representing the spaceship
- Mole rat figurines
- Snake tokens
- Equipment tokens to be collected on the board
- A deck of movement cards
- Ladders, which grant access to different parts of the spaceship
- "Emergency slides" to the escape pod
Setup
- Place the game board in the center of the table.
- Each player chooses a mole rat figure and places it on the starting space.
- Place all necessary equipment tokens on their designated spots on the board.
- Shuffle the movement cards and place them as a face-down deck next to the board.
- Randomly place snake tokens on the game board.
Game Play
The game proceeds in turns, with each player drawing a movement card and executing the indicated actions on the card.
Movement Cards: - Cards indicate movement directions for the mole rats or snakes. - Players follow the card's commands to move their mole rat figure accordingly. - Often, snakes must also be moved, which can be harmful.
Collecting Equipment: - Players need to land on specific spaces to collect equipment tokens. - All necessary equipment must be gathered before heading to the emergency exits.
Special Rules: - Snakes: If a snake reaches or bites a mole rat, the team immediately loses. - Ladders: Used to quickly change positions between different board areas. - Emergency Slides: Once all equipment is collected, players use these slides to reach the escape pod.
Strategic Tips: - Coordination is crucial. Players should work together to efficiently collect all required equipment. - Frequent communication helps avoid blockages or being surrounded by snakes. - Use ladders wisely to dodge snakes or get to another area swiftly.
End of the Game
The game ends in victory when all mole rats and equipment are successfully secured in the escape pod, or in defeat if any mole rat gets caught by a snake.
Conclusion
Mole Rats in Space is an enjoyable cooperative game that promotes strategy, teamwork, and foresight. It is particularly suitable for families and groups looking to overcome challenges together.
