Soulmates
Soulmates Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Components
- 20 Evaluation Cards A-D: 4 in each player color, for evaluation of the other players. Each has a front side and a back side.
- 20 Ego Chips A-D: 4 in each player color, for self-evaluation. Each has a front side and a back side.
- 130 Scenario Cards: each card lists a short "scenario" with 4 possible answers A, B, C, and D (including 5 blank cards). Each has a front side and a back side.
- 10 Boards: each board is always shared by two players (e.g. yellow/mint green).
- 50 Friend Chips: these are the points you can earn as a pair.
- 1 Joker Chip: this is used only when playing with 2 players. Put it on the table. Leave it in the game box for all other player counts.
- 1 First Player Token.
Setup
-
Shuffle the scenario cards and count a certain number of cards, face down.
Number of players 2 3 4 5 Number of cards 16 12 8 10 Stack these cards face down in the center of the table. Return the remaining cards to the game box, as you will not need them for this game.
-
Each player takes the 4 evaluation cards and ego chips of their chosen player color, and keeps these in front of them.
-
When playing with fewer than 5 players, return all boards that were not chosen to the game box (for example, all boards with pink or dark green). Arrange the remaining boards on the table, placing each board between the two players with the corresponding colors. In games with 4 or 5 players, place the boards of players not sitting next to each other in the center of the table, with the colors pointing to the corresponding players.
-
Put the friend chips next to the card stack as common supply.
-
The player who likes soul music the best is the first player, they take the first player token.
Setup example for 3 players: the setup diagram shows three players, each with their evaluation cards and ego chips in their color, with the boards placed between the corresponding players and the friend chips and scenario stack in the center.
Game Summary
At the start of each game round, the first player draws two scenario cards from the stack and reads them silently. Then, they decide which card suits this group of players best. The first player reads that card aloud, including all possible answers from A to D, places it face up in the center of the table, and removes the other one from the game.
Next, each player determines which answer is most true for themselves, using their ego chips. Then, all players evaluate their fellow players. During each round there is one active scenario card.
Evaluate
Evaluate Oneself
First, all players evaluate themself. Each player takes their ego chips, and decides which answer (A, B, C or D) is most true for themself, and places that chip face down in front of them. The players put their other ego chips aside face down for the next round.
Please note: Don't take the short "scenarios" too seriously or literally. In most cases just decide which of the 4 answers is most suitable for yourself.
Example: Matilda (yellow) is the first player. She has chosen the scenario "Your soulmate has a week off. Which destination will it be?". The scenario card's four answers are A: Camp in the nature; B: Nice Airbnb, top rated; C: 5-star hotel with a spa; D: Home is the best place. Of the 4 possible answers, Matilda chooses A for herself, because she likes camping. She places her "A" ego chip face down in front of her.
Evaluate the Other Players
After all players have evaluated themselves, they proceed to evaluate their fellow players, beginning with the first player. Everyone except the first player takes their evaluation cards, and chooses one (A-D) which they think best suits the first player. They place their chosen card face down in front of the first player's ego chip. Then, all the cards are revealed simultaneously after which the first player reveals their ego chip.
Example: Hanna (mint green) thinks that Matilda (yellow) would like to take a luxury vacation and chooses "C". Liz (red) chooses "A" because she thinks Matilda likes to spend her time in the countryside. They place their cards face down in front of Matilda's ego chip. Then, both cards are revealed, followed by Matilda's ego chip.
Friend Chips
Now, the players check if the chosen answer cards and the ego chip match. Each player who has chosen the same answer as the first player earns one friend chip (shared with the first player). Place this chip on the shared board of the corresponding players.
Example: Liz (red) evaluated Matilda (yellow) correctly, and places one friend chip on their shared board. Hanna's guess was wrong, so she does not earn a friend chip with Matilda.
Resolution
Next, you may discuss the reasons each player chose their card. When doing so, you should not give any hints as to your own chosen ego chip if it is still face down.
Finally, players take back their evaluation cards. The player sitting to the left of the first player is the next to be evaluated in this manner, followed by all other players in clockwise order, one after the other. Do not pass the first player marker at this point.
Important: Revealed ego chips remain face up until the end of the round!
Match
After all players have been evaluated once by the other players, they compare their ego chips with each other.
Any two players with the same ego chip are considered a pair having a match (sharing a commonality), and place one friend chip on their shared board. If several players chose the same ego chip, each matching player earns one friend chip each (see example).
Example: Matilda, Hanna and Liz all chose "A" as their best self-evaluation, resulting in three matches. They place one friend chip on each of their shared boards, 3 chips in total.
End of the Round
After the ego chips have been resolved, all players return their chosen ego chip face down with their other chips. The scenario card for this round is removed from the game and the first player token passes to the left. The new first player draws two cards, chooses one, and starts the next round.
Note: In the rare case that the supply has run out of friend chips, remove an equal number of chips from each board and use them as the new supply.
Hint: Store the played scenario cards separately in order to avoid using them again in your next game.
End of the Game
The game ends after the round in which the final scenario card has been played. Now, the final evaluation takes place. The more friend chips you have on all boards, the higher is the commonality of your gaming group. The two players with the most friend chips on their shared board are true SOULMATES, whether they suspected this before or not!
In case of a tie there are several pairs of SOULMATES.
Example: Matilda (yellow) and Hanna (mint green) have the most friend chips and thus are the Soulmates of this game. Matilda + Hanna: 9 friend chips. Liz + Hanna: 6 friend chips. Liz + Matilda: 7 friend chips.
Playing with 2 Players
If playing with two players you probably are SOULMATES already! But how well do you really know each other?
As when playing with more players, you collect friend chips for evaluating each other correctly and for ego chip matches. However, you chose your own ego chip AND the evaluation card for you partner at the same time.
The first player reveals their chosen ego chip and the evaluation card of the other player first. This way you determine your choice and evaluate the other player without influencing their decision.
Joker Chip
Once during the game you may use the joker chip in order to get a bonus. If both players are certain that they have chosen the correct evaluation card they may decide together to place the joker chip in the center of the table. After the cards have been revealed and if both players' choice was correct, they gain an additional two friend chips. Regardless if the joker chip was used successfully or not, it is removed from the game thereafter.
Soulmate Levels (2 Players)
Count your friend chips at the end of the game and find out your Soulmate level by looking at the following chart:
| Friend Chips | Level |
|---|---|
| 0 – 4 | First Steps |
| 5 – 7 | Solid Connection |
| 8 – 10 | Same Wavelength |
| 11 – 13 | Thick as Thieves |
| 14 – 17 | One Heart and Soul |
| 18+ | 100% Soulmates |
Source note on this transcription: the printed rulebook spells "joke chip", "chose" for "chosen", "form the game" and "first player maker" in places; these have been corrected to "joker chip", "chosen", "from the game" and "first player marker" for readability. No rule has been changed.