Molecools^*

Molecools is a small HABA card game for 2 to 5 players aged 8 and up. You split and combine numbered element cards and race to be the first to reach 21 points.

What's it about?

In this game, everything in the universe is made of tiny particles called Molecools. The cards show six elements: air, water, fire, earth, electricity and metal, each with a number. Michiel de Wit designed it, and it reimplements his earlier card game Quibbles with a new science theme.

How it plays

You hold a hand of cards, and an open display sits in the middle of the table. A turn roughly goes like this:

1. Split: give up one card and take smaller cards of matching total value from the display.
2. Or combine: give up several cards and take a higher card matching their total.
3. Or recharge your hand if nothing fits.
4. Use matching sets or a complete sequence of elements to fuse Molecools into scoring cards.

The first player with at least 21 points in their scoring area wins on the spot. A game takes about 15 minutes.

Who is it for?

• Families who want a short card game with a little arithmetic
• Kids from 8 who enjoy juggling numbers
• Quibbles fans who want a fresh look

If you already own Quibbles, the gameplay will probably feel familiar.

Conclusion

Molecools is a quick numbers game with a neat twist. Splitting and combining sounds simple, but it rewards good timing and a sharp eye on the display. If you like small, fast card games with some mental math, it fits the bill. Players looking for depth or heavy interaction will move on after a few plays.