2024 · Knowledge Probe Inc (Brainy Games)
PolyDots is an abstract strategy game and brainteaser for 1-4 players, aged 5+. Using 13-sided tiles called polykites, players align and connect tiles to claim territory with coins matching simple math outcomes.
COMPONENTS
30 polykite tiles
80 coins
2 dice.
GOAL:
Score the highest points by claiming tiles.
SETUP:
Shuffle the tiles and place face down between the players.
Give each player 20 coins of the same colour.
Each player takes five tiles and places them face up beside themselves.
Place a random starter tile between the players.
Decide upon the winning condition using either adjacent or non-contiguous territory.
GAME PLAY:
Playing in turns, a player drops one of their tiles in an attempt to connect colored dots of their colour. A connection can be complete or partial. A complete connection creates a dot of one solid colour, while a partial connection has a dot of mixed colours. Each tile has four sets of 3 dot fragments of the same colour.
If a connection is made, the player makes an attempt to claim one of the adjacent tiles with a coin. This is accomplished by rolling the dice and forming an equation. The equation dictates which coin to place. A coin can be placed on a territory claimed by another player only if the equation is higher than the value of the coin already in place.
Claiming a Tile:
A tile can only be claimed when an adjacent tile has formed a dot with the same colour. The subsequent coin can be placed on either tile.
Stealing Territory:
A player can only steal a territory (tile) by forming an equation whose outcome is mathematically higher than the existing coin.
Stacking Tiles:
A tile can be stacked on an empty tile if an appropriate dot can be formed.
Equations (Outcomes):
Upon rolling the dice, a player chooses the outcome of a mathematical equation from the two numbers. Only 20 outcomes are possible between 1-36. The outcome or solution is from addition, subtraction, multiplication or division of the two numbers. For example, rolling 3 and 5 can yield 2, 8 or 15 from subtraction, addition or multiplication of the two numbers.
WINNING:
There are two winning conditions based on the initial decision of claiming territory:
Adjacent: add up the value of coins in the largest contiguous area.
Non-Contiguous: add up the values of all coins.
The player with the highest coins claimed wins. In case of a tie, the youngest player wins.
STRATEGY:
Try to claim an important tile using the highest mathematically outcome. Such a tile links adjacent tiles to form a larger contiguous area.
SOLO GAME PLAY:
This mode requires you to solve the brainteaser by perfectly aligning as many tiles as you can to form complete dots. The perfect solution uses all tiles.
POLYKITE BACKGROUND:
Polykites were the miracle mathematical shape discovered in 2023. These 13-sided polygons allow a pattern to be formed that never repeats.
In the math world, this kite- or hat-like shape is known as an "ape
