🪦 Dead Grandma
Quick Start Guide
Grandma has passed… and the family is fighting over her stuff.
Win Grandma's prized possessions and become her favorite grandchild!
🎯 GOAL
To win the game, be the first player to collect either:
Three possessions of the same color
Three possessions of different colors
⚙️ SETUP
1. Shuffle the Possession Deck (Green Deck) and put it face down in the middle.
2. Place the Family Disappointment Card nearby.
3. Shuffle the Action Deck (Blue Deck) and deal 6 cards to each player.
4. If you don't have any number cards, discard your hand and draw 6 new ones.
Number Cards
5. Give each player a Pass/Play Card (start on "Play").
Now you're ready to begin!
🕹️ HOW TO PLAY
The game happens in rounds.
Each round, players fight over one possession card.
STEP 1: Reveal Grandma's Next Treasure
- • Flip over the top Possession Card (Green Deck) .
- • This is the prize for this round.
Possession Cards
STEP 2: Everyone Makes a Bid
- • Each player secretly picks one number card from their hand (5–10).
- • That's your bid — higher number = better chance to win.
- • Place it face down.
- • When everyone's ready, flip them all face up.
- • Whoever everyone agrees is the most spoiled goes first.
- • After that, turns go clockwise.
STEP 3: Take Turns
On your turn, you can do one thing:
➡️ OPTION 1: Play an Action Card
Use it to help yourself or mess with someone else.
💰 OPTION 2: Steal a Card
Discard either:
- Two cards with the same number, or
- A run of three in a row (like 6-7-8)
Two of the same:
Run of three:
Then steal one random card from another player's hand.
You can't use the stolen card right away — you can use it later in the same round.
✋ OPTION 3: Pass
If you're done, flip your Pass/Play Card to "Pass."
You're out for the rest of the round (except you can still play a Block card).
Play side:
Pass side:
Note: Play continues clockwise until everyone has passed. On each turn, you may take one action, and you can continue taking turns as long as you wish before passing.
STEP 4: Who Wins the Possession?
When everyone has passed:
- • Add up your number card and any bonuses or penalties from action cards.
- • The highest total wins the possession!
- • Keep that possession in front of you — it counts toward your win.
⚖️ TIEBREAKER
If two or more players tie:
- Each tied player plays one more number card face up.
- No action cards are allowed.
- If someone played Invert earlier, lowest number wins instead.
- If a player has no number cards left, they lose automatically.
- If both players can't play or tie again, no one wins — that possession stays in the middle and will be added to the next round's prize.
🔁 NEW ROUND
- Discard everything you played that round.
- Draw until you have 6 cards again.
- Flip a new possession and start again.
🏁 HOW TO WIN
You win when you finish a round with either:
Three possessions of the same color
Three possessions of different colors
⚠️ If your winning card is covered by the Family Disappointment Card, it doesn't count until that card moves away.
🧓 FAMILY DISAPPOINTMENT CARD
This card starts in the center.
It comes into play when someone plays "Shame On You."
When that happens:
- The player moves the Family Disappointment Card onto another player's possession card.
- That possession no longer counts toward winning.
- The card stays in play until it's moved again (never goes back to the middle).
- It can't be placed on the possession currently being fought over.
- Once it moves off your card, your possession counts again.
ACTION CARDS
+2
Adds 2 points to any player's score (even your own)
-2
Subtracts 2 points from any player's score (even your own!)
Draw 2
Draw 2 more action cards. These can be played in the same round
Invert
The lowest score wins instead of the highest. If another Invert card is played later, scoring switches back to normal. (Still counts during tiebreakers too.)
Swap
Swap your score with another player’s. This includes your number card and any Action Cards affecting it, but not the possession cards they’ve already won.
Shame On You
Move the Family Disappointment Card on top of a possession card. It cannot stay on the same card or be moved to the possession card currently being competed for that round. Use this card to disable that possession — the Family Disappointment Card blocks that possession from counting toward a win.
Block
Play it immediately after the card you want to block — it can only block the most recently played action. Block cards can be played out of turn by anyone, even if you’ve already passed that round. Playing a Block card does not count as your turn, even if you’re next in order. You can also block a Block, but not any cards played on a previous turn.
🌈 WILD POSSESSIONS
The green Wild Possession counts as any color.
Examples:
- Red + Blue + Wild = three different colors
- Red + Red + Wild = three of the same color
❓ FAQS & CLARIFICATIONS
What happens if someone moves the Family Disappointment Card in the middle of a round, causing a player to temporarily have a complete set?
A player only wins when they finish the round with a complete set. If the Family Disappointment Card is moved back onto that player during the same round, making their set incomplete again, they have not won yet.
What if two players end the round with a complete set?
If two players both finish the round with a complete set (either three of one color or three different colors), the player with more total possession cards wins. If there's still a tie, each tied player reveals one possession card and faces off in a 1-on-1 sudden death round. The winner of that faceoff wins the game.
Can I play more than one Action Card on my turn?
No. You can only take one action per turn — that includes playing one Action Card or stealing a card. You can, however, take as many turns as you want before passing.
Can I play a Block card if I've already passed?
Yes. You can always play a Block card out of turn — even after passing. It doesn't count as your turn.
Can I steal from someone who has already passed?
Yes. You can steal from any player who still has cards in their hand, even if they've passed for the round.
What happens if I run out of cards?
You can't take any more turns until the round ends. At the start of the next round, draw back up to 6 cards.
What happens if the Possession Deck runs out?
Shuffle the discard pile to form a new Possession Deck and keep playing.
Can Wild Possessions be affected by the Family Disappointment Card?
Yes. A Wild counts like any other possession — if it's covered by the Family Disappointment Card, it doesn't count toward your win until the card moves off.
THANK YOU FOR TRYING OUR GAME!
If you have any questions or concerns about the game, we'd love to hear from you! Be sure to contact us at deadgrandmagame@gmail.com