All Around Mackinac Island

Frequently Asked Questions

What's new in the 2nd edition?

We think it's now a much improved game! After 10 years, we updated many aspects. Most importantly, we took all new photos for the cards. The cards are a better quality, and the box is a little bigger. Some other changes:

• The original game had only 11 cards, but the new version has 15. 

• To allow for more locations, we added some rules for an Island Deck that is used to fill in the circle of cards between turns. 

• We also changed the number of cards used to make the circle and tweaked other rules to make it more exciting as you push your luck. 

• Many of the card effects were redesigned too. 

Where did you find all the photos for the game?

In 2025, Mike and Kendra went to the island to celebrate their 30th anniversary. (They first went there together the summer when they got married, and they went there on their 20th anniversary too.) Besides enjoying the sites as always, they made sure to take a lot of pictures that they knew they'd need for this updated version of the game. 

Can you explain every card's directions fully?

Sure! Pretend it's your turn and you flip over the card. Here's what each one is telling you to do:

• Ride Bikes - Roll the die. Take that many chips from the Center. Then give the player to your right 2 chips.

• Fort Mackinac - Take 1 chip from the player on your right.

• Walk the Shore - Take 2 chips from the Center.

• The Grand Hotel - Take 1 chip from the player on your left or your right. You decide.

• The Butterfly House - Count all the face up cards, including this one. Take that many chips from the Center.

• Shop Downtown - Staring with you, each player does the following in turn: Roll the die. If it's a 1 or 2, take 1 chip. If it's a 3 or 4, take 2 chips. If it's a 5, take 3 chips. All chips that the players take come from the Center. If you roll a 6, you don't get chips! See below for another way we used to play with this card.

• Fudge! - Count all the face up cards, including this one. Take that many chips from the Center, then take 2 more chips from the center. 

• Stroll the Beach - Take 2 chips from the Center, then continue you turn by rolling and moving again.

• Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour - Take 2 chips from the Center, then take 2 more from the Center and give them to any other player or players. You can't keep those two for yourself, but you can choose freely who gets them.

• Watch Your Step! - When you reveal this card, you have a decision to make. You can choose to end your turn, or you can return 1 chip to the Center and continue your turn.

• Wait for the Ferry - Remove 2 chips from the Center. (You can put them back in the box.) Then you have to roll and move again.

• Arch Rock - Your turn ends, so take any Fun chips you gained this turn and move them to your Fun Pile. Then swap all your chips with the player to your left or right. You can decide which to swap with.

• Storm Rolls In - Every player has to put one chip back into the Center. Then end your turn. 

• Tourist Rush - End your turn. Move any Fun chips you gained this turn to your Fun Pile as usual, then roll the die. Then everyone must pass all the Fun they have to the left that many times. So if you roll a 3, for example, everyone will pass all their chips to the left 3 times. It helps to count this out loud for everyone:  “Pass that Fun once, twice, three times!” 

• Hike the Trails - Every player has to give you one chip. Then remove 3 chips from the Center. (You can put them back in the box.)

The rules say the game ends only when the Center is empty at the end of a player's turn. But when the Center runs out, should the player keep going? Most cards will not earn any chips, since the Center is empty, right?

The player does not have to end the turn just because the Center is empty. It is true that any card that says "take" chips will really not get you any chips once the Center is empty. However, some cards will cause chips to be returned to the center. Some cards let you take a chip from players next to you. But most importantly, Arch Rock and Tourist Rush can really change up who has the biggest pile. Unless you think you have the most chips, it's usually best to keep going and hope to land on one of those cards. Maybe you'll get lucky and win big time!

Are there other ways we can play the game?

Yes, you should always change up the game if you think it will be more fun. Here are some suggestions.

If young players don't like losing their chips, you can always have players take chips from the Center only. So if it says to take them from someone else, just take from the Center instead. You might want to add a few more chips to the Center at the start of the game, so it doesn't end too fast.

Instead of being forced to swap chips on Tourist Rush or Arch Rock, let the player decide if they want to swap. Or just give them 3 chips instead.

If some of the cards will be frustrating for players, just take them out of the deck before the game starts.

And for very young players, you can even remove the option to keep rolling. Just have them roll, move, and do what the card says. Then the next player goes. Don't worry about the Mack' Out rules. Just shuffle the face up cards back into the deck after a few turns for variety.

And we used to have a slightly different rule for the Shop for Gifts card. If you oll a 6, take 1 chip from the Center, then roll again. If you keep rolling 6's, just keep doing this! It can be a fun way for a lucky player to gain a few extra chips.