Overview
Dimension is a fast-paced, real-time 3D puzzle game where players race to stack colored spheres on their trays according to task cards, earning points for correct placements while losing points for rule violations. After six rounds, the player with the most points wins.
Components
- 4 Player trays
- 12 Self-adhesive feet for the underside of the player trays
- 60 Spheres (orange, blue, green, black, and white; 12 of each color)
- 60 Task cards
- 90 Point tokens (30x “1”, 20x “5”, 10x “10”, 6x “20”, 24x “50”)
- Bonus tokens
- 4 Overview tiles
- 1 Hourglass
Setup
- Each player takes a player tray and places it in front of themselves.
- Each player takes 15 spheres: 3 of each color (orange, blue, green, black, white). Place in the five slots of the tray. Do not fill the round holes yet.
- Each player receives an overview tile.
- Each player receives point tokens worth 10 points (one 5-point token and five 1-point tokens).
- Sort remaining point tokens by value and place with bonus tokens as the general supply.
- Shuffle the task cards and arrange face-down in a stack.
- Place the hourglass so it is visible to all players.
Turn Structure
The game is played over 6 rounds. Each round:
1. Reveal Task Cards
Draw the top 6 task cards and place them face-up in the center so all players can see them. When playing for the first time, discuss the meaning of the task cards.
2. Flip the Hourglass
Start the timer.
3. Solve the Puzzle
While the hourglass runs, all players simultaneously try to complete the tasks and position spheres correctly on their own trays. You may stack spheres – up to 3 levels. Level one has room for 7 spheres; level two holds 3 (they do not touch each other); level three accommodates 1 sphere.
4. Time’s Up
When all sand has passed through the hourglass, players may no longer add, remove, or move spheres.
5. Scoring
- +1 point per sphere on your tray.
- -2 points per failed task (task card that your arrangement does not satisfy). One of the players reads the task cards aloud one by one. Each player checks their tray and answers “yes” or “no.” For each failed task, discard 2 one-point tokens (worth a total of 2 points).
- Bonus token for using all 5 colors and completing all 6 tasks. You must have placed at least one sphere of each of the five colors on your tray.
6. End of Round
Put the 6 task cards aside. Return spheres to tray slots. Begin the next round.
Actions
During the timed phase, players may freely place, move, and remove spheres on their tray attempting to satisfy all 6 task cards simultaneously.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
After 6 rounds, players receive point tokens for their bonus tokens using this conversion:
| Bonus Tokens |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
| Points |
-6 |
-3 |
-1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
The player with the most points wins. Ties: the player who collected more bonus tokens wins. Further ties: shared.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
The Seven Task Card Types:
- There must be exactly this many spheres – Exact quantity and color must match the card.
- Special case for same color – If two task cards show the same sphere color, add the quantities (e.g., green “2” + green “3” = exactly 5 green spheres must be placed).
- The spheres must touch each other – Both colors indicated must touch (side by side or on top of each other).
- The spheres must NOT touch each other – The two indicated colors cannot be adjacent.
- A sphere must not be above any other spheres – The solid-colored sphere shown must only be on the bottom level.
- A sphere must not be below any other spheres – The solid-colored sphere shown must not have anything physically resting on top of it.
- The combined total of spheres in both colors must be exactly four – Place exactly 4 spheres total of the two colors shown.
Contradicting Task Cards: If two displayed tasks contradict each other, each player must decide individually which task to follow and accept the -2 penalty for the other.
Solo Game: Play as described above. At the end, add up your points and compare with previous solo scores.
Player Reference
| Scoring |
Points |
| Each sphere on tray |
+1 |
| Each failed task |
-2 |
| Bonus token (all 5 colors + all 6 tasks) |
See conversion table |
| Level |
Max Spheres |
Notes |
| 1 (bottom) |
7 |
Directly adjacent spheres “touch” |
| 2 (middle) |
3 |
Do not touch each other |
| 3 (top) |
1 |
Single sphere |
| Rounds |
6 |
| Task cards per round |
6 |
| Spheres per player |
15 (3 of each color) |