In the electrifying underbelly of Seoul's K-pop empire, where towering skyscrapers pulse with neon lights and the air hums with the rhythm of chart-topping beats, you embody the sharp-eyed scout of Starlight Entertainment—a powerhouse agency on the brink of global domination. The year is 2026, and the industry is a battlefield of glamour and intrigue, with rival labels like the Eclipse Agency lurking in the shadows, ready to poach the next big thing.
Your quest: to curate the ultimate girl group by captivating the hearts of eight extraordinary rising idols, each a beacon of talent forged in underground auditions and viral dance challenges. Armed with lavish gifts and exclusive sponsorships, you'll navigate a web of strategy and speculation, outmaneuvering your rival to secure their loyalties. Every idol you win unlocks a scorching new hit song, with ten blockbuster tracks waiting in your Music Library—each one a step toward assembling a supergroup that could shatter records and ignite stadiums worldwide. But beware: one misstep, and your dreams of K-pop supremacy could fade into the night. This is KPOP SCOUT—a tactical card duel where cunning gifts forge legends!
You are a K-Pop manager dominating the charts! Duel a rival to win 8 stunning idols' hearts with lavish gifts and sponsorships. Draw shared cards, unleash 5 sly actions to outsmart them, secure deals, and forge hits. Majority per idol claims her—first to 5 or 15+ hype points triumphs!
How to Play
KPOP SCOUT is a deeply strategic card game played over multiple rounds against a clever AI rival. At the start, 8 Idol cards are laid out in a row, each representing a unique talent with her own "hype points" (based on the number of matching item cards needed to win her). A deck of 28 Item cards—symbolizing enticing sponsorships like mobile phones, beauty products, designer handbags, platinum microphones, fragrances, recording studios, snacks and beverages, and personal assistants—is shuffled, with one removed unseen. Each player is dealt 6 cards, and the remaining form the draw pile.
Players alternate turns, drawing one card and then performing one of their 5 unique actions (each usable once per round via action markers). The goal is to place more matching Item cards on your side of each Idol than your opponent by round's end. After all actions, score: Move victory markers toward the side with majority items (ties stay neutral). Tally won Idols and total hype points—if you reach 5 Idols or 15+ hype, you win the game and unlock a new hit song! Otherwise, reset items (victories persist) and continue. Masterful play involves bluffing, prediction, and sacrificing lesser items to claim the prizes.
The 5 Actions
1. Reserve: Secretly select 1 Item card from your hand and place it face-down under your Reserve marker. It's hidden until scoring, then revealed and added to your side next to the matching Idol. Perfect for safeguarding a crucial sponsorship!
2. Discard: Choose 2 Item cards from your hand and place them face-down under the Discard marker. These are removed from play for the round—no scoring. Use this to ditch unwanted cards or deny your rival key items.
3. Offer: Select 3 Item cards, place them face-up in front of you. Your opponent picks 1 to add to their side (matching Idol). You then place the remaining 2 on your side. A generous gesture that forces your rival to choose, but beware—they might snag your best!
4. Split Choice: Choose 4 Item cards, divide them face-up into two sets of 2. Your opponent selects one set for their side; you get the other. Crafty grouping can make both options painful for them, turning the tables on tough decisions.
5. Blind Trade: Select 3 Item cards, place them face-down. Your opponent blindly chooses 2 to add to their side (without knowing what they are); you get the remaining 1. (When it's their turn for this action, you choose blindly from their hidden 3.) High-risk bluffing adds thrilling uncertainty—will they grab junk or jackpot?
Meet the Idols
Court these 8 dynamic stars, each with her own personality, talent, and coveted gift. Win her by majority matching items, and she'll join your group, boosting your hype!
