OVERVIEW

Inspired by the Japanese festival, this beautiful 2-player game combines tile placement and area control. Take turns selecting and placing tiles, then positioning rabbits around them to vie for their points.

Each player starts with 15 rabbits in their color, and there are 18 tiles to place over the course of the game. Each tile has a value from 0-5, a color and a special effect. Creating a set of 3 matching tiles (number or color) gives a one-time bonus ability.

GAME PLAY

The tiles are arranged in a circle around the moon board. There are 18 tiles plus the temple tile at the top. On your turn, first select a tile to place on the moon board.

~ If there are no other tiles between the temple and your chosen tile, there is no cost to take it.

~ Otherwise, you must discard rabbits from your supply equal to the number of tiles between the temple and the tile you have selected. On BGA, the number by the tile tells you how many rabbits you must discard to take the tile.

Next, place your tile on the moon board:

~ It must be adjacent to at least one already-placed tile.

Lastly, apply the effect shown at the bottom of tile:

~ Paws = the number of rabbits (from your supply) you may position around the tile you just placed. Rabbits can only be positioned around the tile you just placed and only on unoccupied spaces.

~ Arrow = you may move one of your rabbits that is already on the board to an unoccupied space on the moon board.

Rabbits count toward control of all tiles it is touching. A well-placed rabbit can influence up to 3 tiles.

BONUS ACTION (SETS OF 3)

You can remove a rival's rabbit from the moon board if your tile completes a set of 3 tiles sharing a color or value. The tiles must be connected, but your tile does not need to touch both of the matching tiles. It is sufficient for your tile to touch a tile that is touching another tile, as long as all 3 are the same color or number.

~ The removed rabbit is discarded from the game. It does not return to the opponent's supply.

~ You can remove the rival rabbit before or after you place your own rabbits.

END OF GAME

Players alternate taking and placing tiles until all tiles have been placed.

WINNING

At the end of the game, tiles are claimed by the player with the majority of rabbits surrounding it. Each player tallies the value of the tiles they claimed. Whoever has the most points wins.

Tied? Whoever claimed the most tiles wins.

Still tied? Whoever has the most rabbits in their supply.

VARIANT: Dark Side of the Moon

Played on a special moon board bearing rabbit spaces.

~ Players start with only 3 rabbits in their supply.

~ Gather more rabbits solely by placing tiles on the rabbit spaces, which show either 1 or 2 rabbit symbols.

~ Once you have placed your tile and collected rabbits equal to the # of rabbit symbols on the space covered, apply the tile effects per usual.

~ The rest of the rules are the same.