Players place PUSE tiles on the table to recreate the patterns shown on their secret task cards. Action cards can be used to influence the course of the game. The goal is to complete as many task cards as possible within the set time or before all tiles are used.
Skill focus
Primary Skill Focus
- Flexibility
Complementary/Secondary Skill Focus
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Curiosity, sense of wonder and openness
- Resilience
| Age group | Student number | Duration |
| 6 + | 3-4 students / group class size | 15-20 minutes, depending on the number of tiles and task cards |
How to play – brief game rules
- Preparation: Place the PUSE tiles in two stacks at the edge of the table. A third stack consists of face-down task and action cards. Each player receives three tiles and draws from the third stack until they have exactly two task cards. (They may also receive multiple action cards.) Tiles are visible to everyone; cards remain secret.
- The first player places one PUSE tile in the centre of the table, then draws a new tile to replace it. (Each player should always have three tiles and two task cards and may also hold action cards.)
- Then, taking turns in clockwise order, players add one tile at a time to the shared layout, aligning full edges and making sure the size of the connecting squares matches. The goal is to complete the patterns shown on their task cards, in any scale.
- If a player completes a task card—by placing the fourth tile in a 2×2 square so that the pattern is formed in the centre—they draw a new task card.
- Action cards can be used to influence the game. They may be played only during the player’s turn. These cards can drastically change the current situation, and it is not always easy for players to accept the new conditions.
- If a player does not wish to place a tile during their turn, they may choose to pass.
- The game ends when the PUSE tiles run out or the agreed game time is over. The winner is the player who has completed the most task cards.