None of a Kind

About this board game

None of a Kind is a quick-playing pattern-building game for 2–6 players, with rounds that take about 20 minutes to play. In this colorful race, players are not creating matching patterns—they are trying to avoid them.

The game includes 80 color cards and 30 point cards valued from -4 to 10. Each color card shows 1–4 words, with each word naming one of five colors while appearing in one of the other four colors. This creates challenging visual combinations to assess at a glance.

• Shuffle and spread the color cards across the table.
• Reveal one point card per player.
• Give each player a starting card for their row.
• After five rounds, the highest total score wins.

All players build their rows simultaneously. On each turn, flip cards until you find one that fits beside the rightmost card. A card fits when neither of the two colors on the rightmost card is repeated on the new card, and the two cards show different numbers of words. Add a fitting card to your row and keep drawing; place a card that does not fit face-up on the table.

When a player reaches the required row length—7 to 11 cards, depending on the number of players—they call Stop! Everyone checks for mistakes. Any incorrectly played card, along with every card added after it, is discarded. Players then compare row lengths and claim the available point cards in order, with the longest row taking the highest value.

After each round, the color cards are shuffled for a fresh challenge. With its simultaneous play, rapid decisions, and potential penalties for errors, None of a Kind rewards sharp observation throughout its five-round contest.