Ice Cream is a family board game published by Tactic where players try to match ice cream ball combinations on their cards by moving colored ice cream balls around a circular game board. Players roll a die and move ice cream balls clockwise, stacking them on cones to match the exact color order shown on their cards. The first player to discard all their cards wins.
Components
1 Game Board (circular with cone spaces)
18 Ice cream balls in 3 colors (green for pear, yellow for banana, red for strawberry)
5 Cherries in different colors
24 Cards (showing ice cream cone color combinations)
1 Die
Setup
Place the game board in the center.
Distribute ice cream balls on the board as directed.
Deal 6 cards to each player (for 2–4 players).
Each player places their cards in a face-down pile in front of them.
Turn the top 2 cards face up beside the pile — these are the player’s “open cards.”
Place cherries nearby.
Turn Structure
On your turn:
Roll the die — The number shown is how many spaces you may move ice cream balls.
Move ice cream balls — Move balls of your choice clockwise around the board, distributing the die value among multiple balls if desired.
Check for matches — If you have created a stack of 3 balls matching the exact color order of one of your open cards, discard that card.
Cherry option — If 2 balls match the bottom 2 of an open card, place a cherry on top to lock the cone.
Actions
Moving Ice Cream Balls
Move any ice cream balls clockwise around the board.
The total movement must equal the die roll, but it can be split among multiple balls.
Balls can be stacked on top of each other on cone spaces.
Matching Cards
When 3 balls are stacked in the exact color order shown on one of your open cards, discard that card.
Reveal a new card from your face-down pile to replace it (maintaining 2 open cards).
Using Cherries
If 2 balls on a cone match the bottom 2 balls of one of your open cards, place a cherry on top.
A cherry locks the cone, preventing other players from moving those balls.
You still need to add the correct third ball on top to complete the match.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The first player to discard all their cards (both face-down and open) wins.
There is no scoring system — it is a pure race to match all cards.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
Clockwise movement only: Balls may only move clockwise around the board.
Split movement: The die roll can be distributed among multiple balls in any combination.
Exact color order: The stack must match the card from bottom to top exactly.
Cherry blocking: A cherry on a cone prevents other players from disturbing that stack.
Two open cards: Players always have 2 open cards visible (unless they have fewer remaining).
3 flavors: Green = pear, yellow = banana, red = strawberry.