Difference
Difference Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
50 cards printed on both sides:
- 25 easy-level cards: circus / castle
- 25 hard-level cards: lake / dragon
Setup
Before starting, agree on the illustration you want to play with (Circus, Castle, Lake or Dragon).
Shuffle the 25 cards of the chosen illustration and place one of them, illustration face up, in the centre of the table. This is the reference card for the first turn.
Deal the remaining cards equally among the players, face down, so that the chosen illustration is face down:
- 2 players: 12 cards each
- 3 players: 8 cards each
- 4 players: 6 cards each
- 5 players: 4 cards each (4 cards are set aside)
- 6 players: 4 cards each
Figure 1: set-up for 3 players, playing with the "Lake" illustration.
Gameplay
Each player simultaneously turns over the top card of their pile and compares it with the reference card in the centre of the table. The aim is to be the fastest to find the two differences between your card and the reference card (Figure 2).
As soon as a player has found them, they announce "DIFFERENCE!" and show the two differences to the other players:
- If the answer is correct, the player covers the current reference card with their own card. Their card becomes the new reference card for everyone. The player then turns over the next card of their pile. The other players keep the same card and play resumes.
- If the answer is wrong, the player keeps their card and the game continues until another player announces "DIFFERENCE!".
Note: Of the two differences to find in each turn, one is always identical to one of the two differences from the previous turn. In other words, apart from the first turn, you must find the difference common to the previous turn plus the new difference of this turn.
Figure 2, example:
- Turn 1: between reference card A and card B there are two differences: the colour of the water lily, and the jumping frog.
- Turn 2: between the new reference card B and card C there is one difference common to the previous turn (the jumping frog), and one new difference, which is the missing dragonfly.
Important: you must always announce and show both differences in order to get rid of a card.
End of the Game
The first player to get rid of all their cards is declared the winner. If the other players wish, they may continue the game to determine second place, then third place, and so on.
Variants
Beginner Level
If a player cannot find a difference on the first card of their pile, they may place that card at the bottom of their pile and play with the next card.
Advanced Level
The rules are the same as for the basic game, except for the following point: during play, there is no longer necessarily a single reference card. There may be several at the same time.
When a player finds two differences, they place their card next to the reference card (mandatory on the first turn) or next to one of the cards already in play.
Before placing a card, the players must find the two differences between that card and each card adjacent to the spot where it is to be placed. It is not allowed to cover a card already in play in order to place your own.
Figure 3, example: the player wants to place their card on the spot circled in red. They must announce the two differences between their card and the three cards that would be adjacent to it, that is six differences in total.
Important: players may not line up more than 5 cards in a row or in a column.
The game ends as soon as a player has got rid of all their cards. The players may continue the game to determine second place, then third place, and so on.