Mysterium is a cooperative board game that plunges players into the heart of a mysterious and ghostly investigation. In the game, one player takes on the role of a ghost who has been murdered and cannot rest until their killer is identified and justice is served.
The other players become psychic investigators summoned to Moonrise Manor, where the haunting transpired. Together, they must decipher cryptic visions and clues provided by the ghost through abstract and dreamlike cards, all while racing against the clock to unveil the truth behind the murder.
The game is characterized by its unique blend of deduction, communication, and immersive storytelling. Players must work together to interpret the ghost’s ethereal hints and connect them to the potential suspects, locations, and murder weapons.
Each player’s psychic abilities, coupled with the unfolding narrative, create an engaging and suspenseful experience as they race to identify the culprit and bring closure to the restless spirit.
Mysterium is celebrated for its captivating theme, beautiful artwork, and the challenging task of unraveling a ghostly mystery, making it a beloved choice for fans of cooperative and deduction board games.
How to play Mysterium
The objective of the investigators is to collectively identify the correct combination of the suspect, location, and murder weapon. The ghost’s goal is to guide the investigators to the correct choices using vision cards.
Setup
- Assemble the Board: Place the game board in the center of the table. The board features a map with various locations, character portraits, and murder weapons.
- Character and Location Cards: Shuffle the character, location, and murder weapon cards separately. For each category, draw a number of cards equal to the number of players plus one and place them face up on the corresponding card spaces on the board.
- Vision Cards: The ghost player receives a set of vision cards, which are used to provide clues to the investigators. These cards feature abstract and dreamlike illustrations.
- Screen and Clue Tokens: Give each investigator a player screen and place a set of matching colored clairvoyance tokens behind the screen.
- Intuition Tokens: Place the intuition tokens near the board.
- Crow Marker: Place the crow marker on the “0” space of the crow track.
- Determine Roles: Randomly select one player to be the ghost. The other players are investigators. The ghost player takes the corresponding screen and clairvoyance tokens of their chosen color.
Rules for Mysterium
Mysterium is played over several rounds, with each round consisting of the following phases:
- Setup for the Ghost: The ghost player receives a hand of vision cards (usually seven) and selects a set of vision cards that correspond to one of the suspects, locations, or murder weapons. These cards represent the ghost’s attempt to convey clues to the investigators.
- Dream Phase (Ghost’s Turn): The ghost silently selects one vision card from their hand and places it face-down in front of the corresponding suspect, location, or murder weapon on the board. This card is meant to provide a clue about that particular element.
- Investigation Phase (Investigators’ Turn): The investigators discuss the vision cards placed by the ghost and try to guess which suspect, location, and murder weapon are represented by the clues. They may use intuition tokens to ask the ghost for additional help if they are unsure. The ghost responds with “yes” or “no” using the clairvoyance tokens.
- Clock Phase: Each investigator must select one combination (a suspect, location, and murder weapon) based on their discussions. They place their intuition token on the corresponding combination on their individual clairvoyance track.
- Resolution Phase: The ghost reveals whether each investigator’s combination is correct or not. Investigators who guessed correctly move their intuition token up the clairvoyance track. Those who guessed incorrectly may try again in the next round.
- Crow Phase: The crow marker is moved along the crow track based on the number of correct guesses. If the marker reaches a crow icon, the ghost gains additional vision cards for future rounds.
- Repeat: The game continues with subsequent rounds, with the ghost providing more vision cards to guide the investigators. The investigators aim to solve the mystery before the crow marker reaches the end of the crow track.
End of the Game: The game ends when either the investigators correctly guess the suspect, location, and murder weapon, or when the crow marker reaches the end of the crow track. If the investigators make the correct guess, they win. If the crow marker reaches the end, the game is a draw.
For the official rules, see the link below:
Tips to playing the game well
For the Ghost Player
- Plan Your Clues: As the ghost, you have the challenging task of providing abstract clues through vision cards. Plan your clues carefully, considering how each card relates to the suspects, locations, and murder weapons. Try to create thematic and logical connections.
- Variety and Distinctiveness: Choose vision cards that are visually distinct from each other to avoid confusion among the investigators. A variety of colors, shapes, and themes in your vision cards can help convey information more effectively.
- Progressive Clues: Start with broad or general clues in the early rounds to help the investigators narrow down their choices. As the game progresses, provide more specific and targeted clues to lead them to the correct solutions.
- Use Abstract Concepts: Vision cards often feature abstract or dreamlike imagery. Embrace this and use metaphorical or symbolic interpretations to convey your clues. Encourage the investigators to think outside the box.
- Listen to the Investigators: Pay attention to the discussions and theories of the investigators during the investigation phase. Their thought processes can provide insights into what they are looking for and where they need more guidance.
- Timing Is Key: Remember that the investigators’ intuition tokens are limited. Use them strategically, and don’t reveal too much too soon. Make the most of your intuition tokens by providing additional clues when investigators are on the right track.
- Stay Silent: As the ghost, refrain from speaking or giving verbal clues. Use the vision cards exclusively to communicate with the investigators. Silence adds to the mystery and challenge of the game.
For the Investigators
- Collaborate and Share Information: Open communication is crucial among investigators. Share your thoughts on the clues provided by the ghost, discuss possible interpretations, and work together to piece together the mystery.
- Group and Sort Clues: As you receive vision cards, group them by theme or similarity. Create connections between cards and potential elements (suspects, locations, and murder weapons). Sorting the clues visually can help you see patterns and make deductions.
- Ask for Clarifications: Don’t hesitate to use your intuition tokens to ask the ghost for clarifications when you’re uncertain about a clue. The ghost can provide yes/no answers, which can be invaluable in guiding your deductions.
- Prioritize Correct Elements: Focus your efforts on identifying the correct suspects, locations, and murder weapons before attempting to place intuition tokens on other combinations. Correct deductions move you closer to victory.
- Elimination: If you’re certain about some elements, use them as anchors and eliminate them from consideration. This narrows down the possibilities for the remaining elements.
- Time Management: Be mindful of the game’s time limit. Don’t rush your guesses, but also don’t wait until the last minute to make decisions. Balance your deduction time with discussion.
- Respect the Ghost’s Silence: The ghost cannot provide verbal feedback. Instead, rely on the vision cards and your own discussions to interpret the clues.
- Trust Your Intuition: Sometimes, a hunch or gut feeling can lead you in the right direction. Don’t dismiss your instincts, but always base your deductions on the available clues.
Mysterium is a game that rewards both creativity and logical thinking. Effective collaboration between the ghost and the investigators, coupled with careful interpretation of the abstract vision cards, is the key to solving the enigmatic murder mystery and winning the game. Enjoy the immersive storytelling and the challenge of unraveling the secrets of Moonrise Manor.