K-Pop - Rules - Music Match

SET UP

Make sure a mobile phone with Music Match and a supported streaming app (Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube Music or Tidal) is ready, and that the volume is loud enough for everyone to hear the music clearly.
Shuffle the QR Cards and place them in the center of the table with the QR code facing up.
Shuffle the Match Cards and deal 7 cards to each player.
Place the remaining Match Cards face down next to the QR Card deck to form the Match Deck.
Place one fewer Claim Cube than the number of players in the center of the table.
Example: with 4 players, use 3 Claim Cubes.
Randomly choose a player to receive the DJ Token first. This player starts the game by scanning the top QR Card. The music begins!

START ROUND

As soon as the music starts playing, all players try to match a card from their hand to the track as quickly as possible and try to get hold of a Claim Cube [see Claim Cubes]. Each QR-Card has 7 possible match categories:

ARTIST
TITLE
ARTIST TYPE
MEMBERS
GENERATION
AGENCY
RELEASE YEAR
Play your Match Card face down in front of you to avoid giving other players hints, except when playing an Artist or Title card. Artist and Title cards must be played face up, and you must clearly announce that you are claiming the category (not the actual answer). These categories are exclusive.

Once a player has claimed Artist, no other player may play an Artist card during that round. Once a player has claimed Title, no other player may play a Title card during that round. However, if Artist has already been claimed, another player may still play Title and vice versa.
If you cannot make a proper match, you must still play a card. Just make sure you are not the last player to do so.
TIP: Unsure whether a card should be played face down or face up? Every Match Card has a small padlock icon. If the padlock is closed, play the card face down; if the padlock is open, play the card face up!

End of the Round — Checking Matches

Once all players have played a card:

Start with any player(s) who claimed Artist or Title. They reveal their answers first.
Then reveal the QR Card and all played Match Cards to verify the matches.
IIf the player without a Claim Cube made an incorrect match, they draw 2 cards from the Match Deck. After that, check all other matches. Any other player with an incorrect match draws 1 card. A correct match requires no further action.
Finally, resolve all played Action Cards, if any. If multiple Action Cards were played, resolve them clockwise starting with the player holding the DJ Token.
Place all played Match Cards into a separate discard pile at the edge of your playing area.

New Round

Pass the DJ Token to the player with the fewest cards in hand. If tied, pass the DJ Token clockwise to the first tied player.
The player with the DJ Token scans a new QR Card and starts the next round.

Winning & Passing

If you only have one card left in hand and believe you cannot make a valid match. Then (and only then) are you allowed to pass. If you do, draw 1 card from the Match Deck at the end of the round.
If you play your final card and your match is incorrect, draw 2 cards from the Match Deck, regardless whether or not you managed to secure a Claim Cube.
You may not play an Action Card as your final card. (Artist and Title cards are still allowed.)
If you play your final card and your match is correct, you win Music Match K-Pop Edition!

Claim Cubes — Who Was Last?

Claim Cubes add speed and pressure to the game.
Always use one fewer Claim Cube than the number of players.
As soon as you play a Match Card, immediately take a Claim Cube and place it visibly in front of you.
The player without a Claim Cube is considered the last player. If you were not actually last but forgot to take a Claim Cube, you are still considered the last player. Action Cards and passing also require taking a Claim Cube.

Exceptions

If you cannot play a valid card because all possible options are blocked (for example, you only have Artist cards left and Artist has already been claimed), announce this to the other players and draw 1 card from the Match Deck. So you do not play a card this round.
If two or more players correctly play their final Match Card at the same time, you may either share the victory or play a Match-Off.

Match-Off