Coloretto

2003

Unleash your strategic prowess in Coloretto, a captivating card game where players amass sets of colors and jokers for points while avoiding color penalties.

30
minutes

2 - 5
player(s)

Medium Light

About the game

Coloretto is a captivating board game that immerses its players in a world of vibrant colors and strategic decision-making. The game is set in a color-filled universe where each player aspires to collect the most cards of a specific color, or in this case, three specific colors.

The theme of Coloretto revolves around chameleons and their unique ability to change colors. Players are metaphorically represented as chameleons, collecting different colored cards to gain points. The art and design of the game embody this theme, with beautifully illustrated chameleons and vividly colored cards.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Coloretto is a simple yet engaging board game that consists of the following components:

1. Colored cards: These are the main playing pieces in the game. They come in seven different colors: red, yellow, green, blue, brown, pink, and grey. The goal of the game is to collect these colored cards and form sets. Each set can contribute to your score, but collecting too many colors can result in negative points.

2. Wild cards: These cards can be used as a substitute for any colored card. They are versatile and can help you complete a set or avoid collecting unwanted colors.

3. Last round cards: These cards are used to signal the end of the game. When drawn, they indicate that the current round will be the last one. These cards ensure that the game doesn’t drag on indefinitely, keeping it exciting and engaging.

4. Plus two cards: These cards are used to add two points to your score. They are a good way to boost your points, especially if you are lagging behind.

5. Row Cards: These cards are used to organize the cards drawn during the game. They form the rows where the colored cards are placed. Each row can hold a maximum of three colored cards.

The interaction between these components is what drives the game. The players take turns drawing a card from the deck and placing it in a row. They can also choose to take a row of cards instead of drawing a card. The game ends when all the rows are filled or the last round card is drawn. At the end of the game, the players count their points based on the sets of colored cards they have collected. The player with the most points wins the game.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Coloretto is a simple and colorful card game where players aim to collect rows of matching colored cards while trying to avoid unwanted colors. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Player Roles

There are no specific roles in Coloretto. Every player has an equal opportunity to draw cards, add them to the display, or take a row of cards.

Step 2: Board Placement

While there’s no traditional game board in Coloretto, you’ll need a clear space to display the cards. In the center of the table, place as many row cards as there are players, plus one. For example, if you have three players, you should have four row cards.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each player is given a ‘last round’ card. The remaining cards, which are composed of colored cards and wild cards, form the draw pile. Shuffle this pile and place it face down on the table.

Step 4: Random Elements

Coloretto includes a number of random elements. The order of the colored and wild cards in the draw pile is not known to the players, which introduces a level of chance. Additionally, the decision of which row to add a drawn card to can affect the strategies of other players.

Step 5: Beginning the Game

The youngest player goes first. On a player’s turn, they have two options: draw a card from the pile and add it to a row, or take a row of cards for themselves. If they choose to take a row, they will not take any more turns until the next round. The round ends when each player has taken a row, and a new round begins.

Note: The game ends after the draw pile is exhausted and one final round is played. Players then calculate their scores based on the cards they have collected. The player with the highest score wins the game.

Game flow Round and round we go

Coloretto is a colourful, strategic card game where players collect rows of cards with different coloured chameleons. The aim of the game is to gather as many cards of the same colour as possible while avoiding other colours.

The game is divided into rounds, with each round consisting of several turns. Each player will have one turn per round. Here is how a typical game is structured:

Setup: At the start of the game, shuffle the deck of cards. Each player is given a row card which they will use to accumulate their coloured cards. The +2 cards are placed in a separate pile, accessible to all players.
Player’s Turn: On a player’s turn, they have two options:
- Drawing a Card: The player draws a card from the deck and places it on one of the rows. The number of rows is equal to the number of players. No row can have more than three cards.
- Collecting a Row: The player takes all the cards in one row and adds them to their collection. Once a player has collected a row, they cannot take another action until the next round. The row they collected is replaced by a new row card.
End of a Round: A round ends when every player has collected a row of cards. If the deck runs out of cards before this happens, reshuffle the discard pile and continue.
Scoring: At the end of the game, players add up their points. Each colour in a player’s collection scores points equal to the square of the number of that colour. For example, if a player has four green cards, they would score 16 points. The +2 cards add two points to a player’s score. The player with the most points wins.

The game of Coloretto is a balance of strategy and luck, as players must decide when to collect a row and when to add cards to the rows. A well-timed decision can lead to a big payoff in the end.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

‘Coloretto’ is a strategic card game that requires players to carefully manage their collection of cards in order to score the highest points. A player’s turn in ‘Coloretto’ involves several possible actions and strategic choices, each carrying specific implications for the gameplay.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Drawing a Card:

The player can choose to draw a card from the deck. The card can be of any color. This represents the simplest action a player can take on their turn.
The drawn card is then placed in one of the row(s), also known as ‘trucks’. Each truck can contain a maximum of three cards.
The choice of which truck to place the card in is a strategic one, as it influences the choices of other players. A player may choose to place a card in a truck that already contains cards of the same color, making it more attractive for other players to take.

2. Taking a Truck:

Instead of drawing a card, the player may choose to take a truck. This ends the player’s round, and they cannot perform any more actions until all other players have also taken a truck.
The truck taken by the player is added to their collection. All cards in the truck become part of the player’s card pile, and the color of these cards will contribute to their final score.
Choosing the right truck is a critical strategic decision. Players must consider the colors of the cards in the truck, as well as the potential points they can gain from them. The goal is to collect as many cards of the same color as possible, while avoiding excess colors that could deduct points.

3. Using a ‘Wild’ Card:

Some cards in the deck are ‘wild’ cards, which can be used as any color for scoring purposes. If a player draws a wild card, they can place it in any truck or keep it for themselves.
Deciding when and where to use a wild card is a strategic choice. If used wisely, a wild card can help a player complete a set of the same color cards, or disrupt another player’s strategy.

The gameplay of ‘Coloretto’ relies heavily on strategic decision making. How a player chooses to draw cards, select trucks, and utilize wild cards can greatly influence their final score and the outcome of the game.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Coloretto is a simple yet engaging card game that’s all about smart collection of cards. The game ends under certain conditions. Let’s take a look at when and how the game ends, and what players need to do before final scoring.

The end of the game is triggered when the last card from the draw pile is drawn. After this event, the current round is completed so that all players have had an equal number of turns. If there are any cards remaining in the row(s), they are discarded and do not affect the final scoring.

Before proceeding to final scoring, each player must determine their scoring piles. In Coloretto, players score points from their three most abundant colors. Therefore, players must identify these three colors in their collection. Any cards from other colors are not included in the positive scoring but will count as negative points.

The scoring follows a specific pattern:

Each card in the most abundant color scores positive points according to its quantity. For example, 1 card scores 1 point, 2 cards score 3 points, 3 cards score 6 points, and so on up to a maximum of 55 points for 10 cards.
Each card in the second and third most abundant colors scores in the same manner.
Each card in the remaining colors score negative points in the same pattern.
Additionally, each “+2” card a player has collected adds 2 points to their total score.

After all the players have calculated their points, the player with the highest total score is declared the winner. In case of a tie, the player who collected the least number of cards wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Coloretto is a fun and strategic card game where players collect cards in different colors to earn points. However, the trick lies in the fact that only three colors count positively towards a player’s score and the rest will deduct points. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the scoring system:

At the end of the game, players will count the number of cards they have in each color. For each color, the points are awarded as follows:

One card: 1 point
Two cards: 3 points
Three cards: 6 points
Four cards: 10 points
Five cards: 15 points
Six cards: 21 points
Seven (or more) cards: 28 points

Players then select the three colors in which they have the most cards. These will be their positive-scoring colors. The total points from these colors are added up to form the player’s positive score. The other colors will count negatively. The scores from these colors are added up to form the player’s negative score.

Finally, to calculate the final score, subtract the negative score from the positive score. The player with the highest final score is the winner.

In case of a tie, the following tie-breaking rules apply:

Most Cards: The player with the most total cards wins.
Most Colors: If there’s still a tie, the player with the most colors wins.
Wild Cards: If there’s still a tie, the player with the least number of wild cards wins.

If there is still a tie after applying all these tie-breaking rules, the game is a draw.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The card game Coloretto is relatively simple, but there are a few rare rules, special exceptions, and clarifications that might be important for players. Some of these are:

End of Round:

A round ends when a player draws a “last round” card instead of a colored card. The round continues until it’s the turn of the player who drew the last round card, at which point all players must add their cards to their collection.

Scoring:

In Coloretto, only the three highest scoring colors count as positive points. All other colors count as negative points. This is a common rule that can easily be overlooked by new players.

Plus 2 Cards:

The ‘+2’ cards in Coloretto are wild cards. They can be added to any color stack, regardless of the color of the other cards in the stack. This is a special rule that can greatly impact the final score.

Special Rule for 2 Players:

When playing Coloretto with only two players, there is a special rule: the players must take turns drawing cards until there are four rows instead of three. This rule changes the strategy of the game significantly when playing with two players.

Card Distribution:

The distribution of colored cards in the deck is not equal. There are more cards of some colors than others. This can influence the strategy of the game, as it might be more beneficial to collect certain colors.

Wild Cards:

Wild cards in Coloretto can be used as any color. However, they must be assigned a color at the end of the game and cannot be changed once assigned. This rule can often be misunderstood by players, who might think they can change the color of the wild card at any time.

Game End:

The game ends when the draw pile is exhausted for the third time. This is an important rule that determines the length of the game.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Coloretto is a card game that requires strategic thinking and careful planning. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay:

Advanced Strategies:

Try to focus on collecting two to three colors instead of all of them. This will maximize your score while minimizing your opponent’s opportunity to block you.
Keep an eye on your opponent’s collections and try to deny them cards that they need, even if it means taking a row that doesn’t greatly benefit you.
Remember that the game can end abruptly when the draw pile runs out. Try to predict when this will happen and plan accordingly.

Beginner Tips:

At the start of the game, try to remain flexible in the colors you collect. This will give you more options as the game progresses.
Don’t forget about the ‘+2’ cards. They can provide a significant boost to your score.
Try not to collect more than three colors in the early game. This will keep your score positive and allow you to pivot if necessary.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Don’t get greedy by trying to collect too many colors. This can lead to a negative score.
Avoid taking a row too early. Waiting for more cards to be added can result in a more beneficial row.
Don’t forget to keep track of the number of cards left in the draw pile. If the game ends and you’re not prepared, it could negatively impact your score.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Keep the game moving quickly by planning your turn while others are playing. This will also help you stay focused and aware of the current game state.
Maintain a balanced hand. Try to have a variety of colors and ‘+2’ cards so that you are prepared for any situation.
Use the ‘last card’ rule to your advantage. Remember that the player who draws the last card must place it in a row of their choice. Use this to mess with your opponents’ plans or to benefit yourself.