Dixit, developed by Libellud, was one of the first board games I ever got, so it holds a special place in my heart. It’s also super fun, creative, and enjoyed by many of my friends.
The game is simple to play, using a board to track points, tokens, and large cards with beautiful surreal artwork.
In each round, one player will be the active player. They choose a card from their hand, place it face down, and give a clue relating to it. The clue can be anything, multiple words, a song, or even sounds.
The other players then pick a card from their hands that fits the clue and place them face down. The selected cards are shuffled and placed face up along the numbered sections of the board.
Each card now has a number for identification, and all players (except the active player) use their voting tokens to privately select which card they think belongs to the active player.
Once everyone has voted, the choices are revealed. Points are tallied based on whether players correctly guessed the active player’s card and if anyone was tricked into selecting another player’s card.
The catch is that if all players guess the active player’s card, the active player gets no points, and everyone else scores double points.
Similarly, if no players guess the active player’s card, the active player still gets zero points, and everyone else scores double. The active player only scores points if some, but not all, players find their card.
The game continues with a new active player each round, and the first player to reach 30 points wins.
I adore this game, it’s easy to explain and, since the cards are just pictures, it’s incredibly accessible.
I also love the artwork, there’s a wide range of surreal images, allowing for many interpretations and a variety of different clues. Overall, the style is very illustrative, reminiscent of a children’s storybook.
For a game that relies on its card art to carry it, the cards are highly effective. I don’t own any expansion packs, but playing the game multiple times hasn’t made it feel repetitive at all.
If you enjoy games based on meticulous clues and interpreting images, I highly recommend Dixit.
Libellud also offers other great versions of the game. Dixit Odyssey accommodates up to 12 players, while Stella introduces new mechanics involving risk-taking and word association. There’s also a Disney edition with gorgeous artwork, a must have for any Disney fans.