How to Play Eleusis (Web Version)
Eleusis is a deduction card game inspired by scientific discovery. In this web version, you play solo against a hidden rule. Your goal is to figure out the secret rule by playing cards and observing which are accepted!
How to Play
- Start by playing a card from your hand onto the sequence.
- If your card follows the secret rule, it will be accepted and added to the sequence. You are not aiming to pl ay accepted cards in this version, you are just trying to figure out the rule.
A note on rules:
The secret rule can only depend on the
accepted cards so far (the main sequence).
- It never depends on the rejected cards below the sequence.
- It only considers the ranks and suits of the cards in the sequence.
- It does not depend on anything else: not the card design, how fast you play, the time of day, your device, or any other outside factor.
- The rules are hopefully clear, logical, and deducible from the cards played.
- Some rules may refer to the last card, or e.g. the last two cards, but never to cards that were rejected.
A note on card ranks:
Unless a rule specifies otherwise, card ranks are typically treated with their numerical value. It's common in Eleusis to use these values:
- Ace: 1
- Jack: 11
- Queen: 12
- King: 13
However, a specific rule might choose to treat these differently (for example, by making Aces high). Always pay close attention to how face cards and Aces are handled!
If you ever feel a rule is unfair or too hard, please let us know!
- If not, it will be rejected and shown below the sequence.
- You can draw more cards if your hand is empty.
- Points: You start with 100 points. Playing a card costs 1 point. Grabbing any card costs 5 points. Using "No Valid Cards" costs 10 points (if you have valid cards) or 0 points (if you don't). Failing the Prophet Challenge costs 25 points. Your current points are always shown at the top right.
- When you think you know the rule, click "I Know the Rule!" to take the Prophet Challenge.
- In the challenge, you will be shown 5 random cards from the deck. For each, predict whether it would be accepted by the rule if played after the current last card in the sequence. All challenge cards are evaluated as if they were played immediately after the most recent card in the main sequence (not after each other).
- If you predict all 5 correctly, you win and the rule is revealed! If you make a mistake, you lose 25 points and return to normal play.
- If you get stuck, you can reveal the rule at any time.
Special Actions
No Valid Cards Button: This button checks if you have any playable cards in your hand:
- If you have no valid cards: All cards are moved to the reject pile, you get a new hand, and it costs 0 points.
- If you have valid cards: The first valid card is automatically played, and it costs 10 points.
This button is disabled if you have less than 10 points or if your hand is empty.
Rule Sets
The game includes three different rule sets to choose from:
- Rules, 27th June: Hopefully balanced slightly tricky rules.
- Old Rules: The original rule set, probably a little easier.
- Advanced: More challenging rules, perhaps too difficult!
You can switch between rule sets using the buttons at the bottom of the game. Switching will start a new puzzle.
Inspiration
This web game is inspired by the classic card game Eleusis.
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