If you are looking for a board game that combines high-stakes tension with genuine connection, GRATIS offers a unique experience. While the board’s aesthetic—rich wood, gold accents, and velvet—suggests a classic game of wealth accumulation, the true currency here is your own life’s blessings.

Here is the official guide on how to set up, play, and win a round of GRATIS.

1. Setting the Stage

Before the first roll, players must agree on the Game Length. Because the "wealth" in this game can grow exponentially, it is best to decide on one of two formats:

• Time Limit: Play for a set duration (e.g., 45 minutes).

• Turn Limit: Play for a specific number of rounds (e.g., 10 trips around the board).

Each player chooses a golden token and places it on the START space.

2. The Core Loop: Roll and Reveal

On your turn, roll the dice and move your token clockwise around the board. Most spaces represent a point value (ranging from 100 to 600K).

• The Gratitude Requirement: To "claim" the points on the space you land on, you must express one thing you are currently grateful for.

• The Rule of Uniqueness: This is the heart of the challenge. Every blessing must be different. If another player has already mentioned it, or if you have used it earlier in the game, it doesn't count. You must dig deeper into your observations and memories to find something original.

3. The Stakes: Losing Your Hoard

In GRATIS, your "inventory" of thankfulness is your only protection.

• Failure to Express: If you land on a point space and cannot think of a unique blessing, you don't just miss out on those points. Your total score immediately drops to zero.

• No Negatives: While the loss is significant, you cannot go into "gratitude debt." Your score simply resets to zero, and you begin building your total again on your next turn.

4. The Multipliers: x5, x10, and x100

Strategically placed around the board are the Multiplier Spaces. These are the high-risk, high-reward zones that can turn a modest score into a massive lead.

• Successful Gratitude: If you land on a multiplier and successfully express a unique blessing, your entire current point total is multiplied by that number (x5, x10, or x100).

• The Penalty: If you fail to express gratitude on these spaces, the opposite happens: your current point total is divided by that number.

5. Winning the Game

Once the agreed-upon time or turn limit is reached, the game ends. The player with the highest point total is declared the winner. However, as most players find, the real "win" is the shared insight into each participant's life and the mental shift that occurs after looking for dozens of unique things to appreciate.

Quick Reference Table