First Rat

For generations, the clever rats of the old junkyard have spun tales of a mystical moon made of cheese, dreaming of claiming this endless treasure. One fateful day, adventurous young ratlings stumbled upon a comic showcasing the first moon landing! This thrilling discovery ignited their whimsical plan to build a rocket and seize the delectable cheese for themselves.

In First Rat, players embark on this exciting quest, stepping into the tiny paws of eager rat explorers! Each player begins the game with two rats and can raise up to two more as the adventure unfolds.

On your turn, choose to move one rat between 1-5 spaces along the colorful path, or maneuver 2-4 rats between 1-3 spaces each, provided they land on spaces of the same color. But watch out—rats cannot share spaces! If you land on a spot occupied by an opponent's rat, you’ll need to pay them one cheese (and yes, borrowing from the back is totally allowed!).

Once you’ve moved, gather valuable resources like cheese, tin cans, apple cores, and baking soda that correspond with the color of your current space. Alternatively, you can advance your lightbulb along the light string to boost your future income. More lights mean easier treasure hunting in the vast junkyard!

As you navigate through the junkyard, ending your turn near a store presents a golden opportunity! Spend those hard-earned resources to purchase a backpack or bottle cap, or even steal an item from an opponent, sending that sneaky rat back to the beginning of the movement track.

Strategically use your resources to construct rocket parts for points, or donate cheese in bulk for even greater rewards! Collecting apple cores also allows you to navigate through the rat burrow, unlocking chances to gather comics, stash food, or even raise another rat from the nursery.

Every time a rat reaches the launch pad and boards the spaceship, you gain an extra rat to further your mission! The game concludes once a player successfully places their fourth rat on the spaceship or marks their eighth scoring marker on the board. The player with the most points claims victory, and in the case of a tie, the player with the most rattronauts aboard the rocket takes home the title!

First Rat also features a solo mode and various game setups outlined in the rulebook, ensuring a new and exciting experience every time you dive into this delightful race for the moon!