The Secret Gift
How to play
Find the giver
Someone at Daniel and Grace's wedding gave them an enormous gift and didn't sign the card. Be the first to work out who gave it, in what form, and which room they left it in.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.Matthew 6:3 (KJV)
The cards
| Who gave it (8) | In what form (6) | Where it was left (9) |
|---|---|---|
| Father | Cashier's Check | Front Porch |
| Mother | Wire Transfer | Parlor |
| Grandpa | House Keys | Kitchen |
| Grandma | Car in the Driveway | Study |
| Older Brother | Envelope of Cash | Prayer Room |
| Older Sister | Property Deed | Dining Hall |
| Uncle | Garage | |
| Aunt | Garden | |
| Bridal Suite |
01Setting up
- One giver card, one form card and one room card go secretly into the sealed envelope.
- The other cards are dealt out. Any card in your hand can't be in the envelope.
- Play with 3 to 8 family members. Computer relatives play any seat a person isn't playing.
- Online, everyone picks a family member in the waiting room and agrees on the game speed before the host starts.
02On your turn
- Roll the dice and walk that many squares through the grey hallway. Tap a glowing square to walk there, then keep going until you've used your roll, or tap Stop here.
- Changed your mind? Tap Undo move to go back to where you rolled. You can undo until you make a suggestion or draw a Clue card.
- Pieces can't share a hallway square, and you can't move diagonally.
- Enter a room through a gold doorway. Walking in ends your move, even with steps left.
- The corner rooms have secret passages to the opposite corner (Front Porch ↔ Bridal Suite, Kitchen ↔ Garage). Take one instead of rolling.
03Making a suggestion
- You must be inside a room. Standing at the door isn't enough.
- You can suggest right after you walk in, take a secret passage in, or are moved in by a Clue card. If another player's suggestion calls you into a room, you may suggest there on your next turn without moving.
- Name a giver and a form. The room is the one you're standing in. The person you name is called into that room.
- Going around the table, the first player who holds one of those three cards shows you one of them, privately. If no one can, those cards are either in your hand or in the envelope.
04Clue cards
A ? on either die counts as 1 step and lets you draw a Clue card (two ?s means two cards). Ending your move on a ? square in the hallway draws one too.
| Card | Copies | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| A Whisper at the Reception | 4 | Choose another player. You secretly see one of their cards, picked at random. |
| The Wedding March | 4 | Walk straight into any room you like. You may make a suggestion there. |
| Second Helping | 3 | Take 6 extra steps this turn. |
| Thank-You Note | 3 | Make an extra suggestion right now, naming any room. No one's piece moves. |
| Pass the Blessing | 3 | The player on your left shows you one card of their choice. |
| Family Photo | 2 | Everyone gathers in the Garden for the wedding photo. Every piece moves to the Garden. |
05Keeping notes
- Your notes cross off your own cards and every card you're shown. Tap any line to mark it ✕ (not it), ? (maybe) or ✓ (likely).
- Watch What happened to see who could and couldn't answer other players' suggestions. That's often the best clue.
06Making an accusation
- When you're sure, tap Make an accusation on your turn and name the giver, form and room. You don't need to be in that room.
- You look in the envelope. If you're right, you win. If you're wrong, you're out of the guessing but keep showing cards when asked.
07Playing online
- Each player signs in to Game Center (Settings → Game Center) with their own Apple Account.
- One player taps Play with family online and invites the others by Messages, phone number or email, or picks people nearby.
- In the waiting room, everyone picks a family member. Anyone can propose a game speed (Step by step, Relaxed, Normal, Quick); the host can start once everyone agrees.
- Computer relatives fill any empty seats. If a player leaves, the computer takes over their seat. If the host leaves, the game ends.