Overview

Roller Coaster Hippo is a party game in which players race hippopotamus pieces along a track toward the finish line. Along the way, players face a variety of challenges including answering trivia questions, performing mimes, and modeling objects in clay. The game features funny tasks and crazy events, making it a lighthearted and entertaining experience for groups. Rules for both a standard game (approximately 60 minutes) and a shorter 30-minute version are included.

Components

• Game board with a track from start to finish
• Hippopotamus playing pieces (one per player)
• Challenge cards (trivia questions, mime tasks, clay-modeling tasks)
• Modeling clay
• Timer (sand timer or similar)
• Dice
• Rules sheet

Setup

1. Unfold the game board and place it in the center of the table.
2. Each player selects a hippo piece and places it on the starting space.
3. Shuffle the challenge cards and place them in accessible piles (or a single draw pile).
4. Distribute modeling clay to the play area.
5. Place the timer near the board.
6. Determine the starting player.

Turn Structure

On each turn, the active player:

1. Roll the Die: Roll to determine how many spaces to move (or determine the type of challenge).
2. Move: Advance your hippo piece the indicated number of spaces.
3. Resolve Space: Depending on the space landed on, draw a challenge card and perform the required task:
   • Trivia: Answer a knowledge question correctly to stay on the space (or advance further).
   • Mime: Act out the word or phrase on the card without speaking. Other players guess.
   • Clay Modeling: Sculpt the indicated object from clay within the time limit. Other players guess.
   • Event Spaces: Special event spaces may advance or set back your hippo, or trigger group activities.
4. Outcome: Success on the challenge may grant a bonus move or other advantage. Failure may result in losing your turn or moving backward.

Actions

Answer Trivia: Read the question aloud and answer it. Correct answers may earn bonus movement or other rewards.

Perform Mime: Act out the card’s word or concept without speaking. If other players guess correctly within the time limit, you succeed.

Model in Clay: Sculpt the indicated object within the time limit. Other players attempt to guess what you are making.

Event Cards: Special events can change the game state (swap positions, skip turns, move extra spaces, etc.).

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The first player whose hippo reaches the finish line wins the game. There is no point scoring; it is a pure race to the end.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• The 30-minute version uses a shortened track or modified rules for faster play.
• If the timer runs out during a mime or clay-modeling challenge before anyone guesses correctly, the challenge is failed.
• Players may not use words or sounds during mime challenges.
• Clay objects should be clearly distinguishable; abstract shapes that are not guessed correctly count as failures.
• Event spaces apply immediately when landed on, before any challenge.

Player Reference

Turn: Roll die > Move hippo > Resolve challenge (trivia/mime/clay/event) > Apply result.

Win: First hippo to the finish line.

Challenge types: Trivia questions, mime/acting, clay modeling, special events.