Standard Rules

Game Overview

• Goal: score the most Joy Points (JP). Every point in this game is measured in JP.
• Score tracking: use pen & paper, or the Happiness scorekeeper app.

Setup

1. Build the deck. Select cards based on player count:

2. Shuffle and deal 5 cards to each player. The remaining cards form the community deck.

3. Eldest player goes first.

What's On a Card

• 4 Triangles on each edge of the card (Top, Right, Bottom, Left).
• 5 Triangle Colors: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Silver. Silver is a wildcard — it matches any color.
• Word: the concept shown on the card.
• Joy Points (JP): 1–4 for Happiness cards, none for Bummers.

Your Turn

1. PLAY one card from your hand onto the playing area.
2. TELL a brief story about the word on your card.
3. DRAW one card from the community deck (if available).

Card Placement

• The first card is placed in the center of the playing area.
• Every card after must be placed adjacent to an existing card (sharing an edge — not diagonal).
• Where two cards touch, their triangles must match colors. Silver matches any color.
• If no legal placement exists adjacent to existing cards, you may place anywhere — separated cards can be connected later as play continues.

Scoring: Playing Happiness Cards

When you play a Happiness card, score its JP value. A 3 JP card = +3 JP to your score.

Euphoria (Plus Pattern)

When you play a card that completes a plus shape — a center card surrounded on all 4 sides — AND all touching triangles match:

The Euphoria bonus is in addition to the JP you scored for playing the completing card.

Bummering

On your turn, you may play a Bummer card instead of a Happiness card. Place it following normal rules (adjacent, all touching triangles must match). Then tell a story.

All adjacent Happiness cards are now bummed out — removed from the playing area and placed in your Bummer Pile along with the Bummer card. (Adjacent means sharing an edge, not diagonal.)

Bummed Out JP = the total Joy Points of all cards bummed out.

You cannot make a 0-bummer play if any other legal play exists.

Game End

The game ends at the end of the round in which the last community card is drawn (so all players have equal turns).

Highest score wins.

Tiebreaker

1. Most Joy Points wins.
2. If tied: most cards in Euphoria Pile.
3. If still tied: most cards in Bummer Pile.
4. If still tied: shared victory.

Quick Reference