Objective

Build the best haunted manor over 6 rounds by drafting and placing Manor cards. Earn positive Review cards by satisfying the Architect, Decorator, and Mystery Guests, while hiding or covering negative stars. The player with the most points wins.

Setup

• Choose a Scenario.
• Place the Scenario where all players can see it.
• Shuffle the Mystery Guest cards and place 2 face down below the Scenario.
• Sort the Review cards into five negative-star decks (-1 to -5).
• Prepare the Manor deck:
  • 4 players: all cards.
  • 3 players: remove cards marked "4".
  • 2 players: also remove cards marked "3".
• Divide the Manor cards into 6 equal decks (one per round).
• Place the Vortex card to begin the discard pile.
• Each player receives:
  • 1 Hall card
  • 1 Architect track
  • 1 Ghost token
  • 1 Player Aid
• Each player secretly looks at one Mystery Guest and marks it with their Ghost token.

Game Overview

The game consists of 6 rounds. Each round every player places 2 Manor cards into their manor.

During the game you will:

• Expand your manor.
• Progress toward Architect milestones.
• Reveal Mystery Guests.
• Earn and place Review cards.

After Round 6:

1. Inauguration
2. Final Scoring

Round Structure

1. Deal

One player deals 3 Manor cards face down to every player.

2. Choice 1

Each player:

• Looks at their three cards.
• Chooses one.
• Places it face down in front of themselves.

3. Pass Cards

From the remaining two cards:

• Pass one left.
• Pass one right.

(2-player game: pass one to your opponent and discard the other.)

4. Place 1

Everyone simultaneously adds their chosen card to their manor.

Resolve any effects.

5. Choice 2

Pick up the two received cards.

• Keep one.
• Discard the other to the Vortex.

(Skip this step in a 2-player game.)

6. Place 2

Everyone places their second chosen card.

Resolve any effects.

Repeat until all six rounds have been played.

Placement Rules

Every placed card must obey both rules:

• It must be placed on an empty space or directly on top of another Manor card.
• It must remain connected to your Hall through a continuous path.

Hall cards and Review cards can never be covered.

Connections

Horizontal connections require matching openings between adjacent cards.

Vertical connections use staircases or ladders.

Only one complete staircase or ladder is needed between stacked cards.

If a section becomes disconnected from the Hall:

• It cannot be used to connect future cards.
• It may become connected again later.
• During Inauguration all disconnected cards are discarded.

Architect Progress

Each Scenario defines an Architect objective.

Examples include:

• Complete staircases
• Blocked vertical connections

Whenever you reach a new milestone:

• Advance your Architect marker.
• Take the indicated Review card.

Each milestone can only be claimed once.

Eye Symbols

Some Manor cards contain an Eye.

When you place one:

Reveal one Mystery Guest.

You may reveal:

• the one you secretly viewed at setup, or
• one you have not yet seen.

Only revealed Mystery Guests score during Inauguration.

Review Cards

Review cards work almost like Manor cards.

They:

• Must follow normal placement rules.
• Cannot be covered.
• May trigger additional effects.
• Are discarded if disconnected during Inauguration.

Positive stars are worth points.

Negative stars lose points.

If you cannot legally place a Review card:

• Return it.
• Draw the next Review card from the same pile instead.

Stars on Manor Cards

Some Manor cards also contain printed stars.

Unlike Review cards:

• They have no text.
• They may be covered.

They score only if still visible and connected to the Hall at the end of the game.

Inauguration

After Round 6:

1. The Architect no longer awards Reviews.
2. Discard every Manor and Review card disconnected from the Hall.
3. Resolve the Decorator objective.
4. Resolve every revealed Mystery Guest from left to right.
5. Place all earned Review cards immediately.

Review cards gained during Inauguration may:

• Cover negative Manor stars.
• Trigger additional effects.
• Disconnect parts of your manor (which are immediately discarded).

Hidden Mystery Guests do not score.

Scoring

Score:

• +1 for every visible accessible positive star.
• -1 for every visible accessible negative star.

This includes:

• Review cards
• Printed stars on Manor cards

Highest total wins.

If tied, the tied player with more negative stars wins the tie.

Strategy Tips

• Stay connected to your Hall at all times.
• Cover negative Manor stars whenever possible.
• Reveal Mystery Guests early enough to score them.
• Plan Review card placement carefully—they can trigger chains of additional rewards.
• Don't focus only on the Architect. The Decorator and Mystery Guests often provide a large portion of your final score.