Lost Cities is an exciting card game from the Kosmos two - player series. Originally, it had a single deck with cards ranked 2 - 10 in five colors and three special 'handshakes' per suit. Since 2019, it includes six colored suits, with the sixth color being optional for play. A game board is provided to help you organize discarded cards and manage your collection. The goal is to score points by launching profitable archaeological expeditions represented by the colored suits. On your turn, play one card to an expedition or discard it, then draw one card. Cards in expeditions must be in ascending order. Handshakes are like investments, lower than a 2. The game ends when the last card is taken from the deck. You then discard remaining cards and score your expeditions. Cards are worth their rank, and handshakes multiply your score. Expeditions start at - 20 points, so play at least 20 points of cards to make a profit. A 20 - point bonus is given for expeditions with at least eight cards. A full game consists of three matches, with scores added up.
To play Lost Cities, first, set up the game board and shuffle the deck. Decide if you'll use the sixth color suit. Each player takes a turn. First, play a card either to an expedition or discard it. Then, draw a new card. Remember, cards in an expedition must go in ascending order. Handshakes are a great way to boost your score, but use them wisely. When the deck runs out of cards, the game ends. Discard the cards in your hand and calculate your scores. Make sure you play enough cards to turn a profit on each expedition. After three matches, add up your scores to see who wins. Keep the cards in a dry place and avoid bending them to maintain the quality of the game.
