how to play

Mushinko: How to Play

Welcome to Mushinko, a hybrid roll-and-move board game for 3 to 5 players.
Journey through the enchanted mushroom forest, collect magical items, build your path to victory, and prepare for the final challenge — the Mushinko Drop Game.
Along the way, you’ll encounter fun and mysterious mini games: Fungi Jack, Mystic Frenzy, and Memory Match. The fourth and final mini game — Mushinko — is where it all comes together.

Game Flow Overview:

  1. Roll-and-Move Phase
    Players take turns rolling and moving along the outer and inner tracks of the board. They collect resources like Golden Caps, Magic Mushrooms, Pearls, and Pins, interact with event cards, and encounter action spaces.
  2. Pin Building
    Players build up the pin board collaboratively by collecting pins and placing them during their turns. Once the agreed-upon minimum number of pins (e.g. 30) is placed into the Mushinko Drop Board, the pearl-dropping begins.
  3. Pearl Drops (During Roll-and-Move)
    After the minimum number of pins is placed:
    • Any time a player lands on or passes the Mushinko square on their turn, they get to drop pearls.
    • Each time this happens, the player may drop up to 3 pearls using the pearl cup.
    • Pearls can be dropped individually or all at once.
    • Points from pearl drops are recorded immediately.
  4. End of Roll-and-Move Phase
    Once the maximum number of pins (e.g. 50) has been placed, the roll-and-move portion of the game ends. All players now transition to the Mushinko Drop Game Tournament.
  5. Pin Trading
    Before entering the final tournament, each player may trade in 2 pins for 2 pearls. This makes collecting pins valuable throughout the game.
  6. Mushinko Drop Game Tournament
    • Players take turns dropping pearls in batches of up to 3 at a time using the pearl cup.
    • A player may continue dropping until all their pearls have been used.
    • Scores are recorded after each player finishes.
    • The board is cleared between players.
    • The player with the highest total pearl drop score wins!

Mini Games

Along your journey, you’ll have the chance to compete in 3 additional mini games that occur during the roll-and-move phase:

  • Fungi Jack
  • Mystic Frenzy
  • Memory Match

Each one offers unique challenges and chances to gain more resources or boost your standing.

Mushin’s Guide Cards

Mushin is the wise old gnome of the Fungi Forest, guiding players through chance, wisdom, and opportunity. Mushin’s Guide cards are event-style cards that offer helpful advice, unexpected bonuses, or game-altering twists. Players draw these cards when they land on specific spaces or under certain conditions. Some cards may let you gain extra pearls, reposition pins, or even peek at other players’ resources. Think of them as magical guidance — helpful, mysterious, and sometimes mischievous.

Hinko’s Helper Cards

Hinko is the adventurous little monkey companion in the game. His Helper cards are action-oriented and a bit more unpredictable. These cards are earned through specific board actions or mini game victories. They allow players to perform special moves: double their dice roll, swap resources, drop extra pearls, or even trick other players with clever distractions. They bring energy, risk, and reward — perfect for strategic plays and surprise comebacks.