Tic-a-Long is familiar shedding card style game with a Ticky Twist.
Difficulty: Easy
Players: 2–8
Age: 7+
Time: About 5–20 minutes per round
Scoring: No
Style: Turn-based, shedding card game
Before You Play
For this game, you need to know two TIC card relationships:
Tic: Two cards have two properties in common.
For example, they might have:
- the same number and shape,
- the same number and colour, or
- the same shape and colour.
Single: Two cards have one property in common.
Objective
Be the first player to get rid of all your cards.
Setup
Deal 10 cards to each player.
For younger players or larger groups, you can deal fewer cards, but we recommend at least 6 cards each.
Place the remaining deck face-down in the centre of the table. Flip the top card face-up beside it to start the shedding or discard pile.
How to Play
The player to the left of the dealer goes first (rotate who deals on subsequent rounds). Play continues clockwise.
On your turn, compare your cards with the top card of the discard pile.
If you play a Single
You may play one card that Singles with the top card. Your turn then ends.
If you play a Tic
If you play a card that Tics with the top card, you immediately get to play again. If your next card also Tics, you may play again. You can continue playing for as long as you keep making Tics. You may finish this sequence by playing a Single, but once you play a Single, your turn ends.
If You Cannot Play
If you have no card that can be played, draw 1 card from the deck.
If the card you draw can be played, play it immediately:
- If it Singles, your turn ends.
- If it Tics, you may continue playing.
If the card you draw cannot be played, keep it and your turn ends.
This rule applies whenever you become stuck during your turn, including after playing one or more Tics.
Star Cards
If you end your turn by playing a card with stars, the next player must draw cards equal to the number of stars shown. For example, if you end your turn by playing a 4-star-orange, the next player draws 4 cards.
The star penalty applies only when the star card you play ends your turn with a Single. If you play a star card that Tics, you must continue your turn. If you later become stuck and have to draw from the deck, the earlier star card does not cause a penalty, even if the card you draw cannot be played and your turn then ends.
Going Out
To win, you must legally play your final card to the center shedding pile
Your last card may be:
- a Tic, or
- a Single played after one or more Tics during the same turn.
You cannot win by starting your turn with one card and playing it as a Single.
If your only remaining card Singles but does not Tic, you must keep it and draw a card instead.
The first player to legally play their final card wins the round.
If a player legally goes out with a star card, the round ends immediately and no penalty is applied.
Optional Rules
Once everyone knows the basic game, add special rules to make each round different.
Before dealing, choose one optional rule for that round. Players can take turns choosing the rule from round to round.
Yellow Giveaway
If you end your turn by playing a yellow card, you may give 1 card from your hand to any opponent.
You cannot use this rule to get rid of your final card. You must keep at least one card in your hand unless you legally go out by playing it.
Circle Play Again
If you lay a Single card with circles, this effectively works like a Tic allowing you to play again.
You can invent your own special rules too!
