Objective of the Game

In Food Chain Magnate, your goal is to build and manage a successful fast-food chain. You'll compete with other players to create the most profitable business by hiring staff, producing food and drinks, and marketing your products. The game ends when the bank runs out of money twice, and the player with the most cash wins.

Preparation (Setup)

To set up the game, follow these steps:

• Place the employee and milestone cards as per the image provided.
• Remove a number of cards from each employee card marked with a symbol to match the specified number.
• Create a map by randomly selecting and rotating map tiles, depending on the number of players.
• Place $50 x the number of players into the bank pool.
• Each player chooses a restaurant chain, receives a CEO card, 3 restaurants, and a set of 3 bank reserve cards.
• Randomly determine the initial order of play by placing turn order markers on the track.
• Each player places one starting restaurant, starting with the last in the turn order and allowing passes, followed by a second round for those who passed.
• Each player chooses one bank reserve card to indicate how much money will be added to the bank once it runs out.

The Turn of Game

The game is played in phases:

1. Restructuring: Players simultaneously choose which employees to use this turn, placing them face down and then revealing them. Employees are placed in a company structure pyramid, with the CEO at the top.
2. Order of Business: Players choose their position on the turn order track based on the number of open slots in their company structure.
3. Working 9:00–5:00: Players take turns performing actions for each employee at work, such as recruiting, training, initiating marketing campaigns, and getting food and drinks. Actions are performed in a specific order and include mandatory actions for certain roles and optional actions for others.
4. Dinnertime: Houses determine where to eat based on demand, price, and distance. Chains that fulfill the requirements serve the food and drinks, earning money based on the unit price and bonuses.
5. Payday: Players can fire employees and pay salaries, with discounts available for unused recruitment actions.
6. Marketing Campaigns: Marketing campaigns run, placing demand tokens on houses based on the type of campaign and its range.
7. Clean Up: Players discard excess food and drinks, return cards to hand, and turn over "COMING SOON" restaurants. Milestone cards are removed from the game if claimed.

End of Game and Scoring

The game ends when the bank breaks a second time. Players finish the current phase, and the player with the most cash wins. In case of a tie, the player earlier in the turn order wins.

Tips to Win

Here are some tips to help you succeed in Food Chain Magnate:

• Aim for Milestones Early: Achieving milestones first gives you a significant advantage. Focus on reaching milestones like "First to train someone" or "First billboard placed" to gain long-term benefits.
• Balance Recruitment and Sales: Decide whether to invest in hiring and training staff or focus on marketing and sales. The optimal balance depends on the game's duration and the strategies of other players.
• Use Marketing Wisely: Place marketing campaigns strategically to reach houses with demand for your products. Consider the range and duration of campaigns to maximize their effectiveness.