Goal of the Game

Distribute animal cards from your hand onto the 5 ferries bound for Noah's Ark.

A game is played over three rounds. Each round ends when either: One player has placed their last animal card onto a ferry, or four ferries have departed for the Ark.

After three rounds, the winner is the player with the fewest Penalty Points (tear drops) at the end of the game.

(Alternatively, game end is triggered if someone exceeds 26 Penalty Points.)

Animal Cards

Each player is dealt 8 animal cards each round.

Animal cards display the following:

• Name: Name of the animal (see table below)
• Weight: From 0 to 10
• Gender: BLUE for Male. PINK for Female. (The Snail card is a hermaphrodite and can be played as either Male or Female)
• Penalty Points: 0 to 5 "tear drops", reflecting Noah’s sadness at not being able to save the animal
• Noah's Movement Indicator: Male animals will move Noah "across and left" or "across and right". Female animals move Noah "left" or "right".
• Effect Icon: If the animal has one or more special effects (see table below)

Ferries

Each round starts with five ferries, each loaded with one random animal.

When a ferry has been loaded with animals whose combined weight EXACTLY match the ferry's capacity, the ferry "departs" for the Ark.

Player Turn

On your turn you must:

• Play an animal card from your hand onto the ferry that the Noah marker is on.
• Move the Noah marker according to the played card's Movement Indicator.

Animal Card Placement

You must place one animal card from your hand onto the ferry where the Noah marker resides following these rules:

• Animal cards placed on a ferry either:
  • Must be all the same gender (all Male or all Female), or
  • Must alternate genders (MFMF... or FMFM...).
• Each ferry has a weight limit of 21 (unless modified by a Woodpecker card, which lowers the weight limit to 13).
• The weight of an animal placed on a ferry cannot exceed the ferry's remaining capacity.
• The ferry "departs" for the Ark when it reaches its EXACT weight limit. Then:
  • The cards on the ferry are discarded.
  • The player who "filled the ferry" gets to give away card(s) from their hand to their opponent(s): One card given per ferry that has departed this round (1, 2, 3, or 4).

If you are unable to play a card (due to gender or weight restrictions) you must instead take ALL the cards from that ferry back into your hand.

• You then play a card from your hand onto that same (now-empty) ferry.

Special Effect: Some animal cards provide a special effect when played (see list below).

Extra Turn Bonus: If you play an animal card that matches the animal card below it (i.e.: has the same name, for example a 'Cat' card on 'Cat' card) you get to take another turn (after moving Noah).

• Note: Gender has no impact on achieving the Bonus. Placing either a Male or Female card on another Male or Female card with matching names will achieve the Bonus.
• Note: The Bonus can be achieved over and over again if your cards allow it. (Remember, you still must move Noah between your extra turns.)
• Note: The Bonus can be achieved multiple times even on the same ferry and even with repeated placement of the same animal. For example if, on a previous turn, a Cat card was placed on another Cat card, it is still legal to place another Cat card (making a stack of three Cat cards) to achieve the Bonus.
• Note: Parrots and Woodpecker cards all have a weight of 0, but they do NOT trigger the Bonus if placed over each other. A Parrot must be placed over another Parrot and a Woodpecker over another Woodpecker to achieve the Bonus.

Moving the Noah Marker

After you place an animal card, you must move the Noah marker to another ferry.

• Placing a FEMALE animal requires you to move Noah one ferry to the LEFT or RIGHT of the current ferry (your choice).
• Placing a MALE animal requires you to move Noah to a ferry either "across and to the left" or "across and to the right" from the current ferry (your choice).
• Note: Placing a Donkey/Mule card requires Noah to remain on the current ferry.

Round End & Game End

A game is played over three rounds.

Each round ends when either:

• One player has placed their last animal card onto a ferry, or
• Four ferries have departed for the Ark.
• Penalty Points are then awarded for the number of "tear drop" symbols on animal cards remaining in each player's hand.
• Reshuffle all cards. The player with the worst score begins the next round.

After three rounds, the winner is the player with the fewest Penalty Points (tear drops) at the end of the game.

(Alternatively, game end is triggered if someone exceeds 26 Penalty Points.)

Animals Cards and Special Effects

Standard Animals

Bonus Animals