How To Play: Museum

Overview

Ready to become a world-class Museum curator without getting dust on your shoes? You’re in the right place! I’ve played Museum with my friends way too many times (and lost, sometimes horribly). This guide covers the game rules (so you don’t get tricked again) and the best strategies for winning. Wondering How To Play museum and not embarrass yourself? Stick around, you’ll learn from my triumphs and epic fails.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 4 Museum boards
• 4 Player aids
• 180 Artifact cards
• 54 Patron cards
• 12 Investigator cards
• 20 Public Opinion tokens
• 4 Scoring tokens
• 68 Prestige tokens
• 12 Magnifying glass tokens
• 24 Theme tokens
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Museum: Rules Summary

Game Setup

1. Place the Museum game board in the middle of the table. Don’t worry, it looks fancier than my living room rug.
2. Everyone picks a color, takes a player board, a collector pawn, and those shiny tokens.
3. Shuffle all the artifact cards and deal five cards to each player. If you get only garbage, it’s not my fault.
4. Put the remaining cards in a draw pile next to the board. Make the discard piles too, because you’ll need them soon enough.
5. Give out the starting funds—one coin per player. It’s not a lot, but you’re curating, not running a casino.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, draw a new artifact card. More loot for your greedy hands.
2. Decide which cards to display in your museum. Pay with cards from your hand; yes, you must sacrifice to get trophies.
3. Keep one artifact for yourself, then pass your remaining hand to your left. You’ll soon see what your friends are up to—usually, it’s sabotaging you.
4. Score points for the exhibit you’re building. If you connect themes or regions, you’ll score even more. Synergy is king.
5. Grab a patron card if you complete an objective. You’ll want to show off.

Winning

1. The game ends when the draw deck runs out or a player fills their museum.
2. Count up all your exhibit points, patron bonuses, and the secret bonuses you forgot about.
3. Whoever has the most points takes home the title of Supreme Curator, and probably gets to brag until next game night.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Watch for event cards—they pop up and throw a wrench in your plans. Classic Museum chaos.
2. If you can’t play an artifact, discard one or trade with the market.
3. No peeking at other players’ hands—unless you want to lose friends faster than you can say “How To Play museum”.
4. Follow all tie-breaker rules at the end—if you’re tied, the richest player wins. There’s a lesson somewhere in there.

Now you know the basics! Grab some friends, set up your own museum, and see if you’re better at collecting artifacts than I am (not a high bar, to be honest).

Best Museum Strategies

Make Your Exhibit Shine: Scoring Like a Museum Pro

Choose Wisely: Building Your Foundation

Scoring starts with smart Exhibit organization. When I played Museum with friends, I noticed the winners always planned early. They never just tossed cards down. Instead, follow these:

1. Stick to one or two themes for easy point chains.
2. Balance Civilizations; don’t collect only one type!
3. Plan sets for end-game bonuses—look ahead!

Maximize Scoring Opportunities

Always check the current objective cards. I once missed a big score because I ignored them. Here’s what helps:

1. Fulfill public objectives for extra points.
2. Chase private goals, even if it means odd card picks.
3. Keep Exhibit display uncluttered to spot combos fast.

Mastering exhibit organization is key for anyone learning How To Play museum—and win!

Card Drafting and Synergy: Pick Smart, Win Big!

Understand the Draft

How To Play museum always comes down to picking cards that work well together. So, when you grab cards, think about what you already have. Don’t just go for the shiniest thing on the table.

Synergy Beats Randomness

If your cards work together, you’ll score more. For instance, I once drafted loads of the same civilization by accident and ended up beating my know-it-all friend, Dave. Here are my top tips:

1. Watch what others are taking—don’t let them get easy combos.
2. Go for cards that boost each other’s points.
3. Sometimes, blocking an opponent is worth more than a perfect pick for yourself.
4. Keep your theme flexible early, then focus as the game goes on.

React and Adapt

Don’t stick with one plan. If you see a great set-up, jump on it, even if it wasn’t your first idea. Museum rewards quick thinking!

How To Play Museum: Mastering Opponent Blocking Tactics

Spotting Weaknesses

First, pay close attention to exhibits your rivals build. If you see them collecting a set, swoop in and grab cards they need. This blocks their combos and slows their scoring.

Timing Your Moves

Next, it pays to deny key cards right before your opponent’s turn. Wait until they’re about to grab the last piece they need, then snag it yourself!

1. Track popular themes to block effectively.
2. Hold onto trade cards to prevent easy scoring for others.
3. Use your curator power to shuffle the discard, tossing needed cards away from opponents.

Advanced Distraction

Finally, fake interest in a theme you don’t need! Your friends might waste turns blocking you, while you quietly build your real set. In my group, this trick led to two salty victory dances and a ban on eyebrow waggling.

The Final Exhibit: Claim Your Place in History!

So that’s how you become the fanciest museum boss on the block. Remember, fancy artifacts and good taste only mean something if you outscore your friends—preferably with a dramatic gesture and a smug smile. My buddy Dave once tried to hoard every statue he saw, but forgot about color sets and flopped hard. Don’t be a Dave. Use smart card drafting, keep an eye on your opponents, and never forget your scoring objectives. Oh, and if someone claims your perfect artifact, just smile and plot harder next turn! You’re now ready to show off your skills and teach others How To Play museum. Go fill those halls with history…and bragging rights.

Want to know what we think of Museum? Read our detailed review of Museum here