First Rat

For generations, rats in the old junkyard have passed down the legend of a cheese - made moon. They're eager to reach this endless treasure. One day, young rat children found a comic about the first moon landing in the junkyard, and a plan was born: build a rocket and conquer the cheese moon! The junkyard has all the materials the rats need for the rocket, and other animals are ready to support this bold mission, as long as they're well - paid. All the rats work together, but each family competes to build the most rocket parts and train the most rattronauts for more lunar cheese. In this game, each player starts with two rats and can raise two more. On your turn, you can move one rat 1 - 5 spaces on the path or 2 - 4 rats 1 - 3 spaces each, ending on same - colored spaces. Rats can't share a space. If you land on a space with another player's rat, pay them one cheese, borrowing if needed. After moving, collect resources like cheese, tin cans, apple cores, and baking soda that match the space's color, or move your lightbulb along the string to boost future income. Near a store, spend resources to buy items like backpacks or bottle tops, or steal one (the rat returns to the start). You can also spend resources to build rocket sections and score points or make a bulk cheese donation for points. Picking up apple cores lets you move around the rat burrow to get comics, stored food, or raise a rat from the nursery. You get a new rat when one reaches the launch pad and boards the spaceship. The game ends when a player places their fourth rat on the spaceship or eighth scoring marker on the board. The player with the most points wins, and in a tie, the one with the most rattronauts in the rocket takes the victory. This game also has a solo mode and variable set - ups in the rulebook.

Let's start with how to play First Rat. At the beginning, each player gets two rats and can raise two more. On your turn, you have two movement options. You can move one rat 1 - 5 spaces or move 2 - 4 rats 1 - 3 spaces each, but they must end on spaces of the same color. Remember, your rats can't share a space. If you land on a space with another player's rat, you'll need to pay them one cheese. You can borrow cheese from the supply if you don't have enough. After moving your rats, you can collect resources like cheese, tin cans, apple cores, and baking soda that match the color of the space your rat is on. You can also move your lightbulb along the string, which will increase your income in later turns. When you're near a store, you can use the resources you've collected to buy items like backpacks or bottle tops. You can also choose to steal an item, but the rat will have to go back to the start of the movement track. You can spend resources to build rocket sections and earn points, or make a big cheese donation for points too. When you pick up apple cores, you can move around the rat burrow to get comics, stored food, or raise a rat from the nursery. A new rat joins your team when one of your rats reaches the launch pad and boards the spaceship. The game ends when a player places their fourth rat on the spaceship or their eighth scoring marker on the board. The player with the most points wins. In case of a tie, the one with more rattronauts in the rocket is the winner. As for maintenance, keep the game components in a dry place to prevent damage. Make sure to put all the pieces back in the box after each game to avoid losing them. Enjoy playing First Rat and have a great time exploring the cheese - moon adventure!