If you are reading this, you’re a hacker.

Basic Setup

 Shuffle the Problem card deck and the Element card deck.

 Pick some players to read the Theme cards aloud to the group. Place the Themes face-up on the table for easy reference.

 Choose a random side for the Clock card, and place it within view of all players.

 The Clock is not used in a 4-player game.

 These instructions use a “Deluxe Box” product, and cover 3 to 8 players. For 2 or 9+ players, scroll down.

 Place the Themes, Clock, and face-down decks within reach and view of all players.

Round Steps

 Each player draws three secret Elements from the deck to distribute.

 Each player draws a Problem from the deck, reads it aloud, and places it face-up in front of them.

 Players distribute their three Elements to the three players next to them, in the direction displayed on the Clock: clockwise or counter‑clockwise.

 In a 4-player game, one Element goes to each of the three other players. For a 3-player game, one Element goes to each of the other two players, and the third Element goes to the player in the direction displayed on the Clock.

 Players each add two random face-down Elements from the deck to the three face-down Elements they received, and shuffle the five together.

 Each player secretly looks at their five Elements, and chooses three to use in an improvised solution to their Problem.

 Players share their ingenious, hilarious, and wacky solution stories, revealing their three chosen Elements as they use them.

Round Scoring

 Players retrieve each Element that they gave to another player which was used in a solution, and add it to their Score Pile. If a player can’t remember what they contributed, they can check a player’s unused Elements to help.

 Each random Element from the deck that a player used in their own solution is also added to their Score Pile.

 Flip the Clock to its other side.

 Move each player’s Problem and two unused Elements to the discard areas next to the decks, and start the second or third round.

End of Game

 After the third round, each player counts the number of cards in their Score Pile. Each card is worth one point, and the player (or players) with the most points wins!

2-Player Setup

 Shuffle the Problem deck and the Element deck, and place both within reach of both players.

 Players alternate reading a Theme card aloud. Place the Themes face-up on the table for easy reference.

 Each player draws three Problems from the deck, reads all of them aloud, and places them face-up in front of them.

 Both players draw a hand of three Elements from the deck, and secretly decide which one to place face-down near each of the other player’s three Problems.

 Repeat the draw-and-place process two more times. There will be three face-down Elements for each Problem.

Round Steps

 Each player selects one of the other player’s Problems, and secretly looks at its three face-down Elements (to remember what they contributed). Then they shuffle those three with two random face-down Elements from the deck, and hand all five back to the other player.

 Each player secretly looks at these five Elements, and chooses three to use in an improvised solution to their Problem which was selected by the other player.

 Both players reveal their three chosen Elements and share their ingenious, hilarious, and wacky solution stories.

Round Scoring

 Players retrieve each Element that they gave to the other player which was used in its solution, and add it to their Score Pile.

 Each random Element from the deck that a player used in their own solution is also added to their Score Pile.

 Move each player’s Problem and two unused Elements to the discard areas next to the decks, and start the second or third round.

End of Game

 After the third round, each player counts the number of Elements in their Score Pile. The player with the most Elements wins!

9 or More Players

 Any number of players can be accommodated by adding more cards, and selecting the number of rounds played. The basic math is:

 1 Problem per player, per round.

 5 Elements per player, per round.

 1 Trophy per player, per round. (if used)

 1 Action per player. (if used, but not recommended for 7+ players)

 For reference, a “Deluxe Box” product contains at least 4 Themes, 64 Problems, 120 Elements, 24 Trophies, 8 Actions, 1 Clock, and instructions.

 That’s enough to play two rounds with 9 to 12 players.

 Contents of other products, like “Packs,” vary.

Suggestions

 Due to the expanding time needed for players to share their brief solutions, we think the game plays best with 4 to 6, and 7 or 8 is great if most of the group has played before. Here are some suggestions to create the best experience with a large group:

 Divide into smaller groups. After the first round in each group, note each player’s current points in their Score Pile, and then swap all of the Problems, Elements, and Trophies that a group saw with another group’s. Draw any remaining cards in the decks before shuffling and recycling the swapped cards inside the group that received them. You can even swap a few players between groups to mix things up.

 Form teams of 2 or more people who act together as 1 player in the game. A team improvises their story by selecting one-by-one from the five Elements, not knowing what comes next. When sharing their solution story, the first member of the team speaks until they utilize their first Element, then the next person on the team through the second Element, and the next person finishes the story.

 If you host a giant game of So Many Problems, take some pictures and let us know!