Quick Answer
Set up Squid Inc in under 10 minutes by laying out the board, shuffling the creature deck, dealing starting hands, and placing the influence track. Then play through the rounds by recruiting creatures and climbing the food chain.
Why Squid Inc Is Easy to Learn
Squid Inc is a light strategy game that focuses on recruiting underwater creatures and gaining influence. The rules are simple enough for new players, but the unique abilities of each creature create interesting decisions. If you are new to board games, this is a great starting point because the setup is minimal and the gameplay is intuitive.
What You Need to Know Before You Start
Before you begin, make sure you have enough space for the board and the creature cards. The game includes many creatures with different influence values and abilities, so sorting them by type can speed up setup. Also, decide who goes first—this matters because the starting player can set the pace of recruitment.
Squid Inc Setup and Play in 10 Minutes
- Set Up the Board: Place the game board in the center of the table. Each player chooses a color and takes the matching player tokens and reference card. Common mistake: forgetting to place the influence track tokens. Ensure the track is visible to all players.
- Shuffle and Deal Creature Cards: Shuffle the creature deck thoroughly. Deal each player a starting hand of 5 cards. Place the remaining deck face down as a draw pile. Checkpoint: Make sure each player has exactly 5 cards; if not, reshuffle and redeal.
- Determine the Starting Player: The player who most recently ate seafood goes first. If you prefer a random method, roll a die or draw a card. Common mistake: forgetting to note who goes first. Write it down or use a token to mark the starting player.
- Start the First Round: The starting player takes the first turn. On your turn, you can recruit a creature from your hand by paying its influence cost, or you can pass. After you recruit, draw back up to 5 cards. Checkpoint: Remember to draw back up to 5 cards after recruiting; otherwise, you'll fall behind.
- Use Creature Abilities: Each creature has a unique ability. Read your cards carefully and use them to gain extra influence or disrupt opponents. Abilities can be used once per turn unless stated otherwise. Common mistake: forgetting to use abilities. Always check your hand for usable abilities before you pass.
- End the Game and Determine Winner: The game ends when the draw pile is empty and all players have had an equal number of turns. Count your influence points from creatures and any bonus tokens. The player with the most influence wins. Checkpoint: Double-check your influence count; a missed bonus token can change the winner.
Product Facts
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Squid Inc: In Squid Inc., players compete for influence in the high-stakes underwater business world, where power shifts with the tides. Recruit underwater creatures to your side, and lead them up the (metaphorical) food chain, earning more influence the higher they go. This theme drives the core loop: you'll want to recruit high-value creatures quickly, but their abilities can change the strategy each game.
Squid Inc