How to Play Breaker Blocks

Breaker Blocks is a two-player, 1v1 strategy game where you vie for control over opposing circuits, trying to end then game while you're winning.

For the full Breaker Blocks instruction manual, click the link below. The full manual contains many helpful diagrams that will make learning the game easier, plus it goes into every aspect of the game in greater detail.

For a quick start, keep reading or watch the videos lower on this page.

Download the Instruction Manual Here

Gameplay Introduction

Breaker Blocks is a simple strategy game for two players.

Setup

Dump all of the tiles from the bag on the table.
Separate the three colors into three piles, with all artwork face-up. Each player takes a pile of numbers and keeps it near them. Put the pile with symbols and words in a place accessible to both players.
Put the largest tile, the Circuit Core, in between the two players widthwise.
Find the 0 (Zero) tiles and set them aside. These are the starting hand for each player. There are two zero tiles for each player color.

How to Win

There are three circuits, marked by the I, II, and III numerals. Whoever controls more circuits at the end of the game wins. A circuit is controlled when a player has more power feeding into it than their opponent. The game is over the moment the second Authenticate (END GAME) tile is played.

Draw, play, and rearrange power and action tiles to control the board state.

Control more circuits than your opponent when the game is ended and you win.

Gameplay Basics

Each turn, players can take two actions. There are three action types. Players can take the same action twice or two different actions.

Draw: Take a tile from either your own supply of numbered power tiles OR the shared supply of action tiles.
Play: Play a tile from your hand and plug it into one of your inputs. Action tiles activate their special ability when played. You cannot draw and play the same tile in the same turn.
Rearrange: Move a tile that you have previously played to a new location. You can only rearrange tiles that have nothing plugged into them. Action tiles do not reactivate when rearranged.

Players must take two actions. After taking two actions, the turn is over.

How to Use Action Tiles

Strategy

Action Tiles

Using action tiles appropriately is the key to victory in Breaker Blocks.

To use an action tile, PLAY it onto the board. The moment an action tile is plugged in, its special effect happens.

Action tiles are not reactivated when they are rearranged. There is an action tile that sends tiles back to the supply, however...

Action tiles cannot target themselves or copies of themselves with their effects.

Board Space

You have to plug tiles into your circuits, but there are no rules about the direction those circuits can go in. With careful planning, it may be possible to snake around to physically obstruct your opponent's play area...

Don't forget you can rearrange your tiles! Rearranging doesn't add any tiles to your hand or any power to the board, but sometimes taking up space is even more important.

Tips & Winning

The game is over when the second Authenticate (END GAME) tile is played. Whoever controls more circuits at that exact moment is the winner.

Try to focus on gaining a momentary advantage so that you can play the second Authenticate tile while you're ahead. Timing is everything!

Circuits are controlled simply by having more power plugged into one than your opponent. Remember that winning a circuit 1-0 is just as valuable as winning a circuit 20-0; the size of your lead is unimportant!

You don't have to win every circuit, or even two circuits, to win the game! You just have to be controlling more circuits than your opponent. If you're winning circuit 1 and tied on circuits 2 and 3, you're still winning the game the same as if you were ahead 2-1 or 3-0.

Finally, pay close attention to the shape of the tiles. Every tile has exactly one output tab, but tiles have varying numbers of input tabs and they're not always in the same places. Not every tile is created equal!