Ascend

ASCEND — The Bible Card Game With a Competitive Twist

Challenge your friends, test your biblical knowledge, and build your way to victory. ASCEND combines strategy, memory, scripture knowledge, and a little luck into one fast-paced card game designed for families, friends, youth groups, and competitive players alike.

Contact Fr Paul For Enquiries.
3–6
Players
66
Scripture Cards
3
Collections
30
Redemption Cards
1 min
Per Question

Objective of the Game

Collect complete sets to win

Your goal is to collect 2 complete sets from either:

  • The Old Testament
  • The New Testament
  • Or both, depending on the chosen game mode

Each set is identified by its designated colour group.

Players can choose different difficulty levels by playing:

  • Old Testament only
  • New Testament only
  • Both Testaments together
  • With the optional Redemption Deck for beginners
Only a HARDCOPY NKJV Bible may be used during gameplay.
(If any player caught using a digital Bible or online sources loses all their Scripture Cards).

Watch

See ASCEND in Action

Quick Start

Get playing in minutes

3–6
Recommended Players
3–6 Players
6
Cards Dealt
Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal 6 cards to each player.
3
Moves Per Turn
Draw 2 cards, hold a maximum of 9, and make up to 3 moves per turn.

Starting the Game

  1. Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
  2. Deal 6 cards to each player.
  3. On each turn, players:
    • Draw 2 cards
    • May hold a maximum of 9 cards
    • Can make up to 3 moves

Activating Gameplay

After every player completes their first draw, Active Cards may be used to begin challenges.

Players place their Scripture Cards face-up in front of them, grouped by colour, while keeping all other cards in hand.

Card Types

Every card has purpose

Scripture Cards
Scripture Cards
Scripture Cards are colour-coded into biblical groups. To complete a full set, players must collect all books listed within the designated colour group.
Active Cards
Guess Who?
Ask any player a Bible character question. If they answer incorrectly, you may pinch a card of your choice. Questions must come from the Testament currently being played.
Active Cards
Search the Scripture
Ask a player about a Bible story or character. If unanswered, you may pinch a card from that player.
Active Cards
Trivia
The most powerful card in the game. Ask any Bible-related question from any part of Scripture — even if only one Testament is being used. Answers must be a single sentence.
If unanswered: the opponent must give up a complete set, or multiple cards from the same colour group.
Active Cards
Who Said?
Ask a player who said a specific phrase or statement in the Bible. If unanswered, pinch any single card you need. Questions are not limited to the active Testament.
Active Cards
In Which Book Was It Mentioned?
Challenge all players to identify where a phrase, event, or story appears in the Bible. If nobody answers correctly, every player must give up one card of their choice. Can be answered individually or as a group. If anyone answers correctly, all players are safe.
Hint Rules: Players may use a Pity Card to request a hint for everyone at the table. The clue provided must be clear and unique.
Stopper Cards
Pity — "Give Me a Hint"
Request a hint after a question is asked. Only one Pity Card may be used per question. If the player who asked the question cannot provide a hint, the question becomes void.
Stopper Cards
Birthright
Exchange one card with an opponent without asking a question. Cannot be used on cards that are part of a completed set.
Stopper Cards
Saved
Protect yourself from having a single card pinched, losing a full set, or answering a question. Cannot block Birthright.
Stopper Cards
Accursed
Forces a player to answer a question. Typically used against a Saved card.
Feeling Lucky
Cast the Net
Choose one: Return 2 cards to the shuffled deck and draw 2 new cards — or draw 2 extra cards. Players must finish with a maximum of 9 cards in hand. Extra cards must be returned to the deck.
Feeling Lucky
Breaking the Chain
Reverse the direction or momentum of the game. Best used when an opponent is close to winning.

How a Turn Works

The Golden Rule & Turn Structure

"You must share the answer if your opponent hasn't given one."

If you ask a question, you must already know the answer. ASCEND is designed to help players learn and share biblical knowledge together.

If you ask a question and do not know the answer yourself, you must give one of your cards to the challenged player.

01

On Your Turn

During your turn, you may:

  • Play an Active Card
  • Challenge another player with a Bible question
  • Use Stopper Cards to defend yourself
  • Use Feeling Lucky Cards to shift the game in your favour
02

If Your Opponent Cannot Answer

You may:

  • Pinch a card
  • Break a set
  • Or gain strategic advantages depending on the card played
03

Time Limit

Each player has 1 minute to ask a question and 1 minute to answer. Use your opponents' thinking time wisely to prepare your next move.

04

Fair Play

All questions asked must be clear and specific, relevant to the game mode being played, and asked with a definite answer in mind.

Question Rules & Fair Play

Keeping the game fair

To keep gameplay fair, competitive, and enjoyable for everyone, all questions asked must be:

  • Clear and specific
  • Relevant to the game mode being played
  • Asked with a definite answer in mind

Multiple Answers Rule

If a question can reasonably have more than one correct answer, then any valid biblical answer given by the opponent must be accepted as correct.

Players are encouraged to ask well-structured questions with clear intent to avoid disputes during gameplay.

Invalid Questions

Questions become void if they:

  • Are random or overly obscure Bible verses without context
  • Are unclear or confusing
  • Have multiple possible answers without specifying which answer is required
Time Limit
1 min
to ask a question
1 min
to answer
Use your opponents' thinking time wisely to prepare your next move.

Game Collections

Three Collections

†
Old Testament
Marked † · 39 Scripture Cards

Play Old Testament only, or combine with the New Testament for a fuller challenge.

††
New Testament
Marked †† · 27 Scripture Cards

Play New Testament only, or combine with the Old Testament for the complete game.

♦
Redemption Deck
30 Cards in Total

Designed for beginners and guided gameplay. 5 questions and answers per card — one question from each Active Card category. Players may hold only 1 Redemption Card at a time.

Redemption Deck

Built for beginners

The Redemption Deck is designed for beginners and guided gameplay.

Includes

  • 30 cards
  • 5 questions and answers per card
  • One question from each Active Card category

Rules

  • Players may hold only 1 Redemption Card at a time
  • Unused cards may be returned to the deck and replaced
  • Players should still understand the story behind the questions they ask

If a Pity Card is played and the player cannot provide a valid hint, the question becomes void.

Win the Game

How to Win

The first player to collect the required winning combination wins the game.

  • 2 complete Old Testament sets
  • 2 complete New Testament sets
  • Or the required winning combination chosen before the game starts

What is in the Box?

Complete Contents

Name of Card Old Testament (†) New Testament (††)
Scripture Cards 39 27
Guess Who? 5 5
Search the Scripture 5 3
Trivia 3 2
Who Said? 4 4
In which book was it mentioned? 4 4
Pity 4 4
Birthright 4 3
Saved 3 3
Accursed 3 3
Cast the Net 4 4
Breaking the Chain 1 1
Redemption Deck 30 Cards In Total