Overview

Magic Maze is a real-time cooperative game where players help 4 heroes (a mage, barbarian, elf, and dwarf) rob a shopping mall. Each player can control any hero pawn but can only perform a specific action (e.g., move north, explore, ride escalators). Players must coordinate to steal items and escape before the sand timer runs out – and for most of the game, communication is forbidden.

Components

• Mall tiles (modular board)
• 4 Hero pawns (Barbarian/yellow, Dwarf/orange, Elf/green, Mage/purple)
• Sand timer (3 minutes)
• “Do Something!” pawn
• Action tiles (assigned to players)
• Theft tile (A/B sides)
• Scenario cards (17 increasing difficulty levels)

Setup

1. Place the starting mall tile in the center of the table.
2. Place all 4 hero pawns on the central starting space.
3. Distribute action tiles among players (each player gets specific actions they can perform).
4. Place the “Do Something!” pawn within reach.
5. Flip the sand timer to begin.

Turn Structure

There are no individual turns. All players act simultaneously in real time. Any player may move any hero pawn at any time, but only to perform their assigned action.

Game Sequence

1. Explore the shopping mall by placing new tiles when heroes reach exploration icons.
2. Move each hero to the Item space matching their color.
3. Steal items when all 4 heroes are simultaneously on their respective Item spaces. Flip the Theft tile to the B-side.
4. Escape by moving each hero to an Exit space of their color and removing them from the board.

Actions

Each player is assigned one or more actions (depending on player count):

Action	Effect
Move North	Move any hero 1 space north
Move South	Move any hero 1 space south
Move East	Move any hero 1 space east
Move West	Move any hero 1 space west
Explore	Place a new tile when a hero reaches an exploration icon
Escalator	Move a hero via an escalator connection
Vortex	Teleport a hero to any space occupied by another hero of matching color portal

Sand Timer Spaces

When any hero lands on a sand timer space, flip the timer to gain more time. Each sand timer space can only be used once.

Communication

Players may NOT communicate (no talking, gesturing, or signaling) except during sand timer pauses. When the timer is flipped, players may briefly discuss strategy before the timer starts again.

The “Do Something!” pawn may be placed in front of a player to silently indicate they need to act.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• Win: All 4 hero pawns exit the mall before the sand timer runs out.
• Lose: The sand timer runs out at any point during the game.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Heroes cannot move through walls.
• A hero can only use an exit matching their color.
• All 4 heroes must be on their Item spaces simultaneously to trigger the theft.
• After the theft, heroes must reach exits; they can no longer use Item spaces for anything.
• The game includes 17 scenarios of increasing difficulty, adding new rules and restrictions.
• Advanced scenarios may add security cameras, one-way passages, and other obstacles.
• In solo mode, one player controls all actions.

Player Reference

Hero	Color	Symbol
Barbarian	Yellow	Sword
Dwarf	Orange	Axe
Elf	Green	Bow
Mage	Purple	Vial

Sequence: Explore mall -> Reach Item spaces -> Steal (all 4 simultaneously) -> Escape via exits