The Game of Life: Goals
The Game of Life: Goals Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
88 Cards (4 Lifestyle, 80 Choice, 4 Life Goal)
Object
You can't control the cards you're dealt, but you can choose what to do with them. Build your Life Story by placing Choice cards in front of you — score the most points by achieving Life Goals, staying true to your Lifestyle card, and living life to the fullest!
Set It Up
- Separate the Lifestyle, Choice, and Life Goal cards.
- Shuffle and deal each player one Lifestyle card facedown. Your Lifestyle card tells you how to count your total points at the end of the game. You can look at it at any time during the game, but don't share it!
- Shuffle and deal each player three Choice cards facedown. You can look at the Choice cards in your hand at any time. Place the remaining Choice cards facedown in a draw pile in the center of play.
- Shuffle the Life Goal cards. Place as many Life Goal cards as there are players in the center of play. Life Goal cards are double-sided — you'll only play with the side that's faceup when you place it. Place any remaining Life Goal cards in the box.
- Make sure to leave space in front of you to build your Life Story. You'll place Choice cards into play here.
Set Up Diagram
The printed leaflet shows a setup diagram (sideways on the page) with these labelled areas:
- Draw Pile — the Choice Deck, placed facedown in the center of play.
- Discard Pile — beside the draw pile.
- Life Goal Cards — the Life Goal cards placed in the center of play, one per player.
- Lifestyle Card — each player's facedown Lifestyle card, placed beside their area.
- Hand — each player's three Choice cards.
- Life Story — each player's area in front of them where Choice cards are placed into play.
Let's Play!
The youngest player goes first. Then, play moves to the left.
On Your Turn
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Do one of the following actions:
- Play one Choice card from your hand to your Life Story. Place it faceup in front of you. If it's an Event card, play it to the middle and immediately discard after use. (See CHOICE CARDS.) NOTE: There's no limit to the number of Family, Career, House, or Adventure cards you can have in your Life Story at one time!
OR
- Draw as many cards as your salary dictates. When you start the game, every player's salary is one — meaning if you draw on your turn, you only draw one card. When you place a Career card in play, your salary will grow!
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Did you complete a Life Goal during your turn? Claim it! (See LIFE GOALS.)
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After you play or draw, your turn ends. Now the player on your left goes! Keep playing until either the Choice card deck runs out or all the Life Goals have been claimed. (See ENDING THE GAME.)
At the end of your turn, if you have more than 7 cards in your hand, discard down to 7.
Lifestyle Cards
Lifestyle cards tell you about, well, YOU! Your Lifestyle card tells you how many points the Choice cards you play will be worth at the end of the game. Strategize your Choices and play cards that are best for your Lifestyle — or don't. After all, it's your life!
For example, if you have the Lover of Luxury Lifestyle card, House cards are worth the most points at the end of the game — but Career cards aren't worth as much.
The leaflet shows the Lover of Luxury Lifestyle card with four point boxes, printed as: pink 20, blue 10, green 30, yellow 20. Beside it is a Houseboat House card, printed with "Time to get your sea legs!", "Cost: 1", and the text "Discard 1 Choice card to place this card in your Life Story."
Choice Cards
Choice cards tell your Life Story! On your turn, add a Choice card to your Life Story by placing it faceup in front of you. That Choice card remains there for the rest of the game, unless an Event card is played against it.
There are different kinds of Choice cards for all the different choices you make in life. Build a Family, start your Career, buy your dream House, and go on exciting Adventures! Remember, there's no limit to how many Family, Career, House, or Adventure cards you can have in your Life Story at one time — if you have a lot, it just means you've led an eventful life!
Family
Who will your family be? Family cards have a pink border. If you have the Family Friendly Lifestyle, these cards are worth the most points.
Career
What will you be? Career cards have a blue border. If you have the Workaholic Lifestyle, these cards are worth the most points.
Some Career cards require you to have a Degree card already in your Life Story before playing them. Career cards dictate your salary — when you draw Choice cards on your turn, you may draw up to however many cards your highest Career card in play allows. Even if you start a new salary, make sure to keep your previous Career cards in play so you can count them towards your total points at the end of the game — after all, those jobs are still part of your Life Story!
NOTE: Though you can have as many Career cards as you want in your Life Story, remember that only one Career card can have an active salary at a time. For example, if you place both Astronaut and Doctor in play, you may only keep an active salary for one of those cards — meaning the most Choice cards you can draw on one turn is three cards.
The leaflet shows an Astronaut Career card, printed: "You must have a College Degree in play to use this card." and "Salary Bonus! Every time you draw, take up to 3 cards."
House
Where will you live? House cards have a green border. If you have the Lover of Luxury!, these cards are worth the most points.
To play a House card, pay up! From your hand, discard the number of cards shown on the House card you'd like to play. House cards that cost 2 Choice cards are worth double points at the end!
Home Improvement cards require you to have a House already in your Life Story before you can play them.
The leaflet shows a Ski Chalet House card, printed: "The huge fireplace is very worth it." Cost: 2. "Discard 2 Choice cards to place this card in your Life Story."
Adventure
What will you do? Adventure cards have a yellow border. If you have the Thrillseeker Lifestyle, these cards are worth the most points.
The leaflet shows a Tropical Vacation Adventure card, printed: "Where did you go?"
Event Cards
Event — What will happen? Event cards have an orange border. Play an Event card on your turn to affect the lives of the players around you! Follow the text on the Event card and immediately place that card in the discard pile — Event cards don't go in your Life Story!
When another player uses an Event card against you, you can immediately play the Insurance card to cancel that Event! Discard after use.
The leaflet shows a Change of Scenery! Event card, printed: "All other players must discard a House card in play." and "Discard this card after use."
Life Goal Cards
Compete with other players to achieve Life Goals and gain more points! Claim Life Goal cards by placing Choice cards with matching icons in your Life Story. Remember, the icons must match — not just the border colors! If you end your turn with the required cards in play to complete a Life Goal, claim that card! You can complete more than one Life Goal per game, but only one Life Goal per turn.
Place your completed Life Goals in a pile to the side and count them towards your final points at the end of the game. Once you earn a Life Goal, no one can take it from you! Event cards do not affect Life Goals.
For example, if the Pet Lover card is in the center and you end your turn with three Pet cards in play, you can claim the Pet Lover card! At the end of the game, this card is worth 100 points.
The leaflet shows two Life Goal cards: Real Estate Tycoon (60 points; three House icons) and Pet Lover (100 points; three Pet icons).
Ending the Game
The game ends when either all the Life Goals have been completed or the Choice card deck runs out. Each player tallies up their points based on their Lifestyle card and the Choice cards in their Life Story. The cards in your hand don't count towards your total points! Add your Life Goal card points at the end.
Remember: Different Lifestyle cards determine how valuable your Choice cards in play are! For example, if Thrillseeker is your Lifestyle, then Adventure cards in your Life Story are worth 30 points, and House cards are worth 10 points!
The leaflet's example shows the Thrillseeker Lifestyle card with four point boxes, printed as: pink 20, blue 20, green 10, yellow 30. Break a World Record (an Adventure card) plus Houseboat (a House card) equals 40.
The player with the most points wins! In the case of a tie, the player who completed the most Life Goals wins! If it's still a tie, the player with the most cards in their Life Story wins.