Tie the black cord into a circle on any flat table and split the stones evenly. Take turns placing one stone inside the circle. If any stones snap together on your turn, you take every stone that moved. The first player with no stones left wins.

The rules fit on the quick-rules card in the box. Most families learn them in about 60 seconds and are halfway through a first round a few minutes later.

One set plays 2–4 people. Split the 20 stones evenly: 10 each for two players, 6 or 7 each for three, and 5 each for four. For bigger groups, combine sets. With three sets (60 stones) you can play the 6-player party mode from the bonus guide, which is why the 3-set pack is so popular for holidays and family reunions.

Ages 8 and up. After that, age doesn't matter much: it's a game of steady hands and nerve, so kids, parents and grandparents play on equal footing. Plenty of grandparents tell us they win more than their fair share.

WARNING: Contains magnets. Collide is for ages 8+. Keep the stones away from children under 8 and never put them in the mouth. Keep them away from pacemakers and other medical implants, credit cards and electronics. We recommend adult supervision for younger players.

After every game, count all 20 stones back into the pouch and store it out of reach of little ones.

They're strong enough to jump together from a few inches away, and that's exactly what makes the game tense. The closer you place a stone to the others, the stronger the pull. You control the difficulty with the cord: a bigger circle gives everyone room, a smaller one makes every turn a nail-biter.

It's simple to learn, not simple to win. Each stone you place changes the pull on every other stone, so no two rounds play out the same way. When you're ready for a twist, the FREE 12 Bonus Game Modes guide adds sudden death, team play, left hand only, timed turns and more.

About 5 to 10 minutes. That's short enough for a school night and long enough for real drama. Setup takes under a minute, so you can squeeze in a round before dinner, while the pie cools or while you wait for a table.

Fair warning: almost nobody stops at one round.

The game still works with a few missing: just split the stones you have evenly. The drawstring pouch keeps everything together, and counting the stones back in after each game makes losing one unlikely. If anything is missing or damaged when your order arrives, email us and we'll help. Families who travel a lot often pick the 2- or 3-set pack so they always have spares.

Yes. The cord isn't a fixed ring. You tie it into any size circle you like. Bigger circle, easier game, which is great for first games and younger players. Smaller circle, harder game, for when the grown-ups want to sweat.

None of the above. No batteries, no screens, no app, no updates and no setup. Just 20 stones, the cord and any flat surface. It works the same on a campsite, a hotel desk or a cabin floor as it does at the kitchen table, and there's nothing to charge before the grandkids arrive.

We don't offer gift-wrapping, but Collide arrives in a gift-ready box, so it goes straight under the tree or into a stocking. If it's a surprise, ship it to yourself so the recipient doesn't see the package first.

Orders ship within 1–2 business days and US delivery takes 5–8 business days with tracking. Carriers get busy in December, so if Collide is a Christmas gift, order early. The sooner you order, the less you have to worry about it.

It's a printable guide with twelve more ways to play Collide, emailed with every order and also on our bonus page. It includes a bigger or smaller circle, sudden death (one snap and you're out), team play, left hand only, timed turns and 6-player party mode with three sets. It's free with every order.

Play Collide for up to 30 days from delivery. If it isn't a hit at your table, email us with your order number, send it back, and we'll refund you in full. That's it, no awkward questions.