What is the Hyrax Game?
Build up your own Hyrax Empire with your friends, in the Hyrax Game! Developed by the creators of “Trickdraw” and “House of Poison”, the game has you navigate around a Zoo to build up your Hyrax park. The more hyraxes, the better!
Overview
Overview
In the Hyrax Game, players take simultaneous turns moving around their personal player board to interact with different zoo enclosures, searching for the escaped hyraxes.
At each enclosure, players can use time preparing exhibits (completing minigames) for bonus hyraxes. Additionally, players can find hyraxes hidden around the map, and gain hyraxes for the total distance they travel throughout the zoo.
Don’t forget to make use of the hyrax tunnels to quickly travel between different parts of the map.
The player with the most hyraxes after 15 minutes (15 turns) wins!
Hyrax Game Rules: Set-Up
Hyrax Game Rules: Set-Up
Give each player 1 player board. Each player will also need something to write with (pencil recommended for new or indecisive players).
Give each player 1 hyrax meeple. Everyone places their pawn on the Start circle in the center of their board.
Remove the 6 dice from the box and place them in the center of the table. Set the red die to the side. It will not be used on the first few turns.
Player Set-Up
Player Set-Up
Before the game begins, roll the 5 white dice once. All players will use this same roll for set-up.
Each player selects 4 numbers and writes them in the 4 blank bubbles scattered around their player board. These numbers are permanent.
The number on the remaining die is the location of each player’s Star Hyrax. Draw a small star in the upper right corner of the board location with the matching number.
Since the 3 was your only unused die, you’ll draw your star in the matching 3 location on the board.
Hyrax Game Rules: Gameplay
Hyrax Game Rules: Gameplay
The Hyrax Game takes place over 15 turns. Each represents one minute of in-game time. When 15 minutes are up, the zoo opens!
Each turn is broken into three phases:
Note: Turns are taken simultaneously. Because of this, there is no player limit, beyond who can see the dice!
Dice Roll
Dice Roll
One player rolls all 5 white dice (or all 6 dice if the Red Die has been unlocked by 1 or more players).
To keep it fair, a different player can roll the dice each turn, rotating clockwise. You can also designate one player to roll the dice every turn to make it more convenient for larger player counts.
Dice Selection
Dice Selection
Simultaneously, every player selects dice to use this turn. To do so, simply write the number showing on the dice you intend to use
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) into the column for this turn, indicated by the number at the top of the turn chart.
Note: Each player selects their own dice. Yours might be the same or different compared to everyone else.
As soon as one player finishes Prov. 30:26, the Red Die is unlocked for all players. Anyone with Prov. 30:26 unlocked records the Red Die for free in the designated spot. Everyone else can select it as normal, effectively giving them one more option to choose from.
See Enclosure Minigames for how to unlock Prov. 30:26.
Turn Completion
Turn Completion
Simultaneously, every player will use the numbers they selected to make game actions. Each time you use a number, cross it off from your personal turn chart. Each selected number will only be used once.
There are 2 ways to use your numbers;
Move Your Pawn
Move Your Pawn
You can move to any circle adjacent to your player pawn connected by a straight or dotted line. To do so, you must cross off numbers of your personal turn chart exactly equal to the circle you wish to move to.
Each time you move to a space you haven’t been before, indicate that by crossing off the circle. At the end of the game, you will score points for each space you’ve travelled to. There is no limit to the number of times you can move per turn, so long as you have the selected dice to do so
Complete Enclosure Minigames
Complete Enclosure Minigames
You can interact with any of the enclosures adjacent to your player pawn.
Each minigame is slightly different. It might be asking you to add up to a certain number, make a straight, or make 5 of a kind. To do so, use one of your selected dice by crossing it off your personal turn chart and add them to the board.
For the “Straight 1-6” minigames, you will cross off the numbers shown in any order as you fill them.
For the “Must equal X” and the “5 of the same” minigames, you will fill in your numbers left to right.
Hyrax Game Rules: Bonuses
Hyrax Game Rules: Bonuses
Check for bonuses from any square that you have filled out. They could be a Free Dice Box, or a Hyrax Tunnel!
Bonuses: Free Dice Box
Bonuses: Free Dice Box
Whenever you cross off or fill in a square with the Free Dice Box symbol on it, immediately select a Free Dice Box at the top of your player board to unlock.
At any time, you can use numbers from Free Dice Boxes that you’ve unlocked the same way you use your selected dice each turn. Cross them off and place them in minigames, or cross them off for movement around the board.
Bonuses: Bonus Hyraxes
Bonuses: Bonus Hyraxes
Bonus Hyraxes are worth 2 Hyraxes each. They are located around the board and given out as rewards in enclosure minigames.
Bonuses: Hyrax Tunnels
Bonuses: Hyrax Tunnels
If you’ve unlocked Psalm 104:18, you gain access to Hyrax tunnels. For the rest of the game, you can travel between the marked circles as if they had direct lines between them. Simply cross off the necessary numbers from your personal turn chart and teleport across the map.
Bonuses: More Dice
Bonuses: More Dice
As soon as one player finishes Prov. 30:26, the Red Die is unlocked for all players. Anyone with Prov. 30:26 unlocked records the Red Die for free in the designated spot. Everyone else can select it as normal, effectively giving them one more option to choose from.
See Enclosure Minigames for how to unlock Prov. 30:26.
Hyrax Game Rules: End of Game Scoring
Hyrax Game Rules: End of Game Scoring
After the Turn Completion Phase of the 15th turn, the game is over.
Bonus Hyraxes
Bonus Hyraxes
Bonus Hyraxes are worth 2 Hyraxes each. They are located around the board and given out as rewards in enclosure minigames.
Each blue space with a star next to it also counts as a Bonus Hyrax (unless it was your selected Star Hyrax).
All Big Hyraxes
All Big Hyraxes
If you found all 5 Big Hyraxes (by visiting those spaces around the board), you earn 15 Hyraxes.
Star Hyrax
Star Hyrax
Each player selected one circle to be their Star Hyrax for this game. If you found your Star Hyrax by visiting that space, you earn 4 Hyraxes.
Exhibits Prepared (Minigames)
Exhibits Prepared (Minigames)
Most of the enclosure minigames give you a different number of Hyraxes for filling out ALL of their boxes. These numbers are at the bottom of the player board to help you strategize.
Communal Urine Spots
Communal Urine Spots
Most of the enclosure minigames give you a different number of Hyraxes for filling out ALL of their boxes. These numbers are at the bottom of the player board to help you strategize.
Sunbathing Fields
Sunbathing Fields
Most of the enclosure minigames give you a different number of Hyraxes for filling out ALL of their boxes. These numbers are at the bottom of the player board to help you strategize.
Family Reunion
Family Reunion
Most of the enclosure minigames give you a different number of Hyraxes for filling out ALL of their boxes. These numbers are at the bottom of the player board to help you strategize.
Leafy Greens
Leafy Greens
Most of the enclosure minigames give you a different number of Hyraxes for filling out ALL of their boxes. These numbers are at the bottom of the player board to help you strategize.
Hyraxes Found
Hyraxes Found
Count the total number of circles you traveled to. These translate to Hyraxes according to the chart at the bottom right on the player board.
Whoever found the most Hyraxes in the game, WINS!
Merch
