Hitster Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Object of the Game
• Contents
• Setup
• How to Play
  • 1. Scan
  • 2. Place
  • 3. Flip
  • 4. Next Turn
• HITSTER Tokens
  • Bonus Tokens
• Difficulty Levels
• Cooperative Mode
• Winning the Game

Object of the Game

Be the first player (or team) to collect 10 music cards, correctly placed in chronological order on your timeline. You don't need to know the exact release year of a song — only whether it came out before, after, or in between the songs already on your timeline.

Contents

• 300+ music cards, each with a QR code on one side and the artist, song title and release year on the other
• HITSTER tokens
• Game rules

You also need the free HITSTER app (available for iOS and Android) and a Spotify connection to play the songs.

Setup

1. One player takes on the role of the DJ. The DJ may also play along.
2. The DJ downloads the free HITSTER app and connects it to Spotify.
3. Decide whether you will play individually or in teams.
4. Each player (or team) takes 2 HITSTER tokens and 1 music card, which they place face up (date side up) in front of them. This card is the start of their timeline.
5. Shuffle the remaining cards into a deck, QR-code side up, within reach of the DJ.

Songs are arranged on your timeline from left to right by release year, with the earliest song on the left and the most recent on the right.

How to Play

Play passes to the left. On each turn:

1. Scan

The DJ takes a card from the deck, scans its QR code using the HITSTER app and follows the on-screen instructions. A song starts playing. Do not look at the printed side of the card.

2. Place

The active player (starting with the player to the DJ's left) listens to the song and places the card, face down, in the spot on their timeline where they think it belongs chronologically — before, after or in between the songs already there. Do not peek at the underside of the card.

3. Flip

Flip the card over to reveal the release year.

• If the card is in the correct position, the player keeps it as part of their timeline.
• If it is in the wrong position, the card is discarded into the box — unless another player has correctly placed a HITSTER token to steal it (see the tokens below).

4. Next Turn

Play continues to the left, with the next player placing a new song, until someone wins.

HITSTER Tokens

Tokens give you extra options. There are three ways to use them:

1. On your turn — skip a song: Pay 1 HITSTER token and scan the next card to start a new song. Discard both the token and the skipped card into the box.
2. On an opponent's turn — steal a card: Before the card is flipped, shout "HITSTER!" and place 1 of your tokens on that opponent's timeline where you think the card belongs. If you are right, you steal the card and add it to your own timeline.
3. Anytime — buy a card: Trade 3 HITSTER tokens for the top music card from the deck and place it directly on your timeline, without having to guess its release date.

Bonus Tokens

On your turn you can earn 1 HITSTER token if you can correctly name both the song's title and the artist's name — even if you placed the card in the wrong spot on your timeline. No player can hold more than 5 tokens at any given time.

Difficulty Levels

Choose how hard you want the game to be. In every mode, the goal is still to collect 10 correctly placed cards.

• Original: Place the card in the correct chronological position on your timeline. You don't need to know the exact year — only whether it comes before, after or in between your other songs. Naming the artist and title earns a bonus token but is optional.
• Pro: To keep a card, you must place it correctly and name the artist AND the song's title. You still don't need to know the exact year. Players start with 5 tokens and do not earn new tokens during play.
• Expert: To keep a card, you must place it correctly and name the artist, the song's title AND the exact year the song was released. Players start with 3 tokens and do not earn new tokens during play.

Cooperative Mode

Play together as a single team. Form a team, take 5 HITSTER tokens and 1 card from the deck to start your shared timeline. Play as normal, but when a card is placed incorrectly, pay 1 HITSTER token instead of discarding the card. Try to collect 10 cards on your timeline before you run out of HITSTER tokens.

Winning the Game

The first player (or team) to have 10 cards correctly positioned on their timeline wins the game and earns the title of HITSTER.