Tales & Games: The Hare & the Tortoise

About this board game

Tales & Games: The Hare & the Tortoise is a card-driven animal-racing and betting game for 2–5 players, with a playing time of about 20 minutes.

At the beginning of each race, secretly bet on up to two of five animals: the turtle, rabbit, lamb, wolf, and fox. Each player also receives a randomly chosen animal and adds one face-down card as an extra bet before the race begins.

Players take turns playing one to four cards, all showing the same animal, then refill their hands to five cards. Movement occurs when eight cards have been played in total or when four cards of one animal have been played. The race track contains eleven road cards, including two covered with water.

• Turtle: normally moves one space, or two when four turtle cards are played.
• Rabbit: moves two spaces when cards are played, unless four cards are played while it leads, causing it to sleep.
• Fox: moves a number of spaces equal to the cards played.
• Lamb: moves one more space than the cards played, but stops for a drink when it reaches water.
• Wolf: has special howl cards that can prevent every other animal from moving.

A round ends when three animals reach the goal. Players then score according to the animals’ finishing order and their bets. After three rounds, the player with the most points wins.

With hidden information, changing movement opportunities, and distinct animal abilities, Tales & Games: The Hare & the Tortoise turns a familiar fable into a compact race of timing, prediction, and card play.