Seashells
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Move the bucket three spaces to the left, take a purple seashell. The person after you moves it up, snatches a starfish you needed. In the end, count who collected the most shapes and colors. Always the same, never equal.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
A walk on the beach that turns into a competition
Seashells was born from a prototype called Flower Bouquet, designed by Bruno Faidutti (Citadels, Mission: Red Planet) and presented at the GAMA fair in February 2025. Helaina Cappel of KTBG signed the contract after a few meetings. The KTBG team changed the setting from a flower meadow to a shell beach, with illustrations by Christopher Ryan Chan.
Arrange all the shells on a 7x7 grid with a red bucket in the center. Each turn you move that bucket along the X or Y axis as many spaces as you want, collecting the piece you land on. Scoring is obtained by majorities in collections: same shapes, same colors. KTBG added special tokens (fossils, messages in a bottle) and secret cards for each player.
What they say abroad
"With accessible rules, easy randomization, and 20-minute play time, this new KTBG game is a walk on the beach."
Accessible rules, randomized setup, and 20 minutes of play: this new KTBG title is a walk on the beach.
— KTBG
Seashells presents itself as an elegant abstract game with a delicate thematic veneer. The shared bucket creates immediate tension: each move opens up possibilities for others. Too early for definitive judgments, but Faidutti's idea is clear and KTBG's development work seems to have added depth without overcomplicating it.
— FroGames
Seashells
FrogScore · editorial rating FroGames · first reading: based on rules and official presentation, updated with first playsWhat you find on the beach
Four elements that make up the collection
Seashells
Seashells are the main pieces you arrange on the 7x7 grid. Different shapes (conchs, clams, scallops, starfish) and seven colors. Collect majorities by shape and color.
Red bucket
The bucket starts in the center of the grid. Each turn you move it along the X or Y axis as many spaces as you want. Where it stops, you collect the piece. Everyone moves the same bucket.
Special tokens
KTBG added fossils and messages in bottles: tokens that alter scores or give bonuses. These were not in Faidutti's original prototype.
Secret cards
Each player has two secret cards that indicate personal objectives ignored by others. Added during development to provide tactical depth without complicating the rules.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each turn
A turn lasts 10 seconds. Four actions, always the same.
You can move the bucket as many spaces as you want along the X or Y axis from its current position. No diagonals, no changes of direction: a straight horizontal or vertical line.
Take the piece (shell, special token) from the space where you stopped the bucket and add it to your collection. That space is now empty.
If the bucket is on a space with no other pieces along X and Y, the game ends. Otherwise, pass the turn to the next player.
The bucket stays where it is. The next player moves from your final position, not from the center. Each turn changes the board for everyone.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Setup and first moves
Randomly distribute all the shells on the grid, place the red bucket in the center. You look at the grid: there are lines of pieces you want, but you have to move first. The first player moves the bucket two spaces to the right, picks up a yellow starfish. Everyone is already watching what you picked up.
First collections
After three turns you have two purple shells and a starfish. Someone is collecting many different shapes of the same color, someone else is aiming for starfish. Each move leaves the bucket in a new position: what you do opens (or closes) options for others.
Special tokens
A fossil appears in the bucket's path: you take it, it's worth extra points or changes the count. You don't know if you'll really need it, but leaving it to the next person seems like a mistake. The grid empties, the lines shorten.
Majorities hanging in the balance
Scoring is based on majorities: whoever has more pieces of a shape or color wins that category. Halfway through the game you are first in starfish, but second in purple. You have to choose: consolidate the majority you have or chase the one you lack.
End of game
The game ends when the bucket lands on a space with no pieces on the X or Y axis. Count the points: 3 for first place in each category, 1 for second. Revealed secret cards overturn some rankings. Someone wins by one piece.
🐸Things to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
Things to know beforehand
Three things to keep in mind
Strict majorities
In the final version, KTBG chose a more generous scoring system (3 points for first, 1 for second) compared to Faidutti's original idea (3 for first, 0 for others). Even so, if you are third in a category, you get zero. You cannot spread resources: you must choose which majorities to aim for.
Pure random setup
The shells are randomly placed on the grid. No drafting, no initial choices. Different games every time, but also unbalanced games: if the setup is unfavorable to you, you have few levers to compensate in 15 minutes.
Open information (almost)
Secret cards give each player two hidden objectives. Otherwise, everything is visible: collections, remaining pieces, possible trajectories. Those who suffer from analysis paralysis can get stuck even on a 20-minute game.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
The game ends when someone moves the bucket to an isolated space. Then the points are counted.
Victory
- You have the majority in at least 3-4 categories (shapes or colors): you get 3 points for each.
- Your secret cards match the collections you have gathered: hidden bonus points until the end.
- You have collected special tokens (fossils, bottles) that are worth extra points or multipliers.
Defeat
- You chased too many different categories and are second or third in all of them: few points, no clear majority.
- Opponents read your moves and snatched key pieces from you in the last two or three turns.
- You ignored the secret cards and discover at the end of the game that someone has accumulated 6-8 hidden bonus points.
Seashells is an elegant abstract game that can be explained in 5 minutes and generates continuous tactical choices. The shared bucket is a simple but effective idea: each move changes the board for everyone.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
Seashells FAQ
What mechanics does Seashells use?
Seashells is a game of grid movement and set collection. Each turn you move a shared pawn (the bucket) on a grid and collect shells. Scoring is based on majorities: whoever has more pieces of a shape or color wins that category. The mechanics are area movement, grid movement, set collection.
Does it work well with 2 players or do you need a full table?
The game is for 2-5 players. With two players, the grid empties slower and you have more control over the bucket's trajectories: a more tactical, less chaotic experience. With four or five players, the grid runs out quickly and majorities become more competitive. Both configurations work, but the tone changes.
How long does a game really last?
KTBG states 20 minutes of play, Faidutti indicates 15 minutes. With players who know the rules, you're looking at 15 actual minutes. First game or with small children, it can go up to 25 minutes. Setup included: 2-3 minutes to randomly arrange the shells on the grid.
Is it suitable for 6-year-olds or is the recommended age optimistic?
The recommended age is 6+. The rules are very simple (move the bucket, take a piece), but understanding which majorities to pursue requires planning. A 6-year-old can play and have fun, but will probably not optimize collections like an adult. Great for families with primary school children.
Is it available in Italian?
The edition for sale is in English. The game is almost language-independent: there are no texts on the cards or components, only symbols and colors. You need to read the rulebook once (available in English), then you can play without a language barrier.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Seashells, designed by Bruno Faidutti and published by KTBG in 2026, is a grid movement and set collection game for 2-5 players. With accessible rules and a duration of 15-20 minutes, suitable for ages 6 and up, players take turns moving a red bucket on a 7×7 grid, collecting shells of different shapes and colors. Scoring is achieved through majorities in collections. KTBG added special tokens and secret cards to provide tactical depth. Born from a prototype called Flower Bouquet, Seashells brings Faidutti's talent for elegant fillers to an abstract game with a marine theme. Available on FroGames.it.
Seashells
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
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