Buried Memories

Here is how to play the game, based on the rules provided:

Setup

• Dump all the tiles into the bottom part of the game box (called the dig site) and shuffle them into a random pile so some are face-up and others are face-down (p. 7).
• Place the scoreboard on the table and put the goal marker on space 35 (though this starting position increases by 3 spaces for each opened envelope) (p. 7).
• Each player chooses a score marker, places it on the scoreboard's starting position based on the player count, and takes its corresponding creature token to place in front of them (p. 7).

How a Turn Works

• On your turn, you take tiles one at a time from the dig site, ensuring you only pick tiles that are fully visible and not covered by another tile (p. 3).
• Place all collected tiles in front of you with their creature side facing up (p. 3). You can continue taking tiles for as long as you want, or stop at any time (p. 3).
• If there are three or fewer tiles remaining in the dig site at the start of your turn, you may pour all discarded tiles from the lid back into the dig site and shuffle them (p. 3).
• Busting: If you ever collect two tiles showing the same creature during your turn, you have busted and must stop taking tiles (p. 5).
  • If the matching creatures match another player's score marker, you must give those two tiles to that player, who may keep or score them (p. 5, 9).
  • If the matching creatures match your own score marker or an unplayed marker, discard the two tiles into the box lid (p. 5).
  • Exception: If you bust with your very first two tiles and collected nothing else, you get to take another full turn (p. 1, 5).
• Scoring: After you stop taking tiles or bust, flip your collected tiles to their artifact side and advance your score marker accordingly (p. 6).
  • Gemstones score 1, 2, or 3 points based on the tile (p. 6).
  • A complete vase (top and bottom) scores 5 points (p. 6).
  • A complete statue (top, mid, and bottom) scores 12 points (p. 6).
  • Successfully scored tiles are discarded into the box lid, while incomplete artifacts are kept in front of you face-down for a future turn (p. 6).

How the Game Ends

• Play continues in a clockwise order until a player reaches or passes the goal marker (p. 2, 4).
• When this happens, the current round is played to the end so that every player takes the same number of turns, with the player seated to the right of the start player taking the very last turn (p. 1, 4).
• The player with the most points at the end of this final round wins the game (p. 4).