Ion: A Compound Building Game

Ion is a card drafting game with no down time, where players select from a number of available ions and noble gases, with the goal of forming neutrally charged compounds or sets of noble gases. Players score additional points for creating compounds found of the goal cards each round.

Ion's scientifically accurate theme revolves around some of the most fundamental concepts in chemistry: ionic bonding, elements, atoms, charges, ions, anions, cations, noble gases, halogens, alkali metals, Alkaline earth metals, compound naming, creating neutrally charged compounds, transition metals, polyatomic ions, reactions, acids and bases.

For the times when you can't get enough chemistry, Ion includes multiple expansions. A Transition Metals expansion, a Polyatomic Ion expansion, and a Radioactive Card expansion extend the educational fun. 

Here's how to play:

Each player is initially dealt eight cards. They choose one card and pass the remaining to the player on their left, while they receive the same amount of cards from the player on their right (this is commonly referred to as “card drafting” or “pick and pass”).

Selected cards must be either (1) bonded to another ion or (2) set alone. Players only score points for neutrally balanced cards. So a positive charged Sodium (Na+) bonding with a negatively charge Chloride (Cl-), forming a neutral NaCl compound, would score points.

Points are scored at the end of each round and player may gain additional points for building specific compounds listed on the goal cards for that round. After three rounds the player with the most points wins!

Ion: A Compound Building Game Contents:

• 50 Charged Ion Cards
• 18 Noble Gas Cards
• 14 Radioactive Element Cards
• 6 Transition Metal Cards
• 6 Polyatomic Ion Cards
• 21 Action Tiles
• 9 Compound Goal Cards