Pixies

To set up Pixies, thoroughly shuffle the deck of cards. Depending on the number of players, each participant is dealt a specific number of cards face down—four cards in total for typical player counts—which are then arranged in a 3x3 grid layout resembling a phone keypad.

The main objective of Pixies is to accumulate the highest total score across three rounds of play. Players achieve this by strategically placing and revealing cards, maximizing matching color sequences, collecting symbols, and minimizing penalty points.

During a turn, players draw cards and place them into their grid. If the corresponding number spot in the grid is empty, the card is placed face up. If that spot is already occupied, the new card must be placed face down on top of any existing card position.

Scoring is calculated at the end of each round based on three main categories: validated cards (face-up cards with no cards stacked on top), the length of the longest contiguous color chain multiplied by the round multiplier, and symbol sets (such as spirals and icons) minus any penalty crosses.

A round officially ends as soon as any player completely fills all nine slots of their grid with cards, either face up or face down. After three complete rounds, the player with the highest cumulative score is declared the winner.