Pack the Essentials

How many cats will fit in your suitcase? There is only one way to find out!

Every cat owner knows there is only one rule when packing for a trip – whether for business or pleasure, never forget to pack the cats!

In Pack the Essentials, players take on the role of travelers who want to bring as many of their trusty felines with them as possible. Lure cats into your luggage with Pack Rat toys, do your best to fill your suitcase with matching colors, and make sure not to forget about your To-Do Lists before you head out the door!

Gameplay Mechanics

1. Drafting Polyomino Tiles:
   Players take turns selecting polyomino-shaped tiles from a shared pool. These tiles represent clothing items, accessories (like socks and pom poms), and even cats. Your goal is to strategically fit these tiles into your suitcase and maximize color groupings for bigger points!
2. Packing Your Suitcase:
   As you pack your suitcase, you’ll want to group clothing tiles of the same color. The larger the group, the more points you score! You’ll need to think ahead to place tiles in such a way that you’ll create the largest possible groupings.
3. Fitting Cats into Your Suitcase:
   You can also “pack” cats by using Pack Rat tokens. For each cat you successfully fit into your suitcase, you score 5 points. Make sure the cats are packed strategically and within color groups to maximize your points!
4. To-Do Lists for Bonus Points:
   Completing tasks from your to-do list can earn you extra points! For example, you can score for filling entire columns with items, having cats near the edge of your suitcase, or grouping cats with pom poms.