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How to Play

Cryptid

3-5 players 30-50 min 7.4 Board Game Geek Rating

Cryptozoologists race to locate a mysterious creature using deduction and misdirection. Each player holds one crucial clue but must extract information from opponents without revealing too much of their own knowledge. Players take turns questioning others to narrow down the Cryptid's location on a modular board. Victory goes to whoever pinpoints the creature first while keeping their evidence secret.

Published 2018

Cryptid

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Choose game mode
Play in normal or advanced mode; advanced mode includes negative clues and uses all 4 structures of each type instead of 3
2
Select map cards
Use standard border cards for normal mode or black border cards for advanced game
3
Pick starting player
Determine who will take the first turn
4
Distribute player pieces
Give a set of colored cubes and discs to each player
5
Build the map
Shuffle the appropriate map cards, draw 1, then construct the map tiles and place structures according to the card
6
Assign clues
Flip the card over, find the row matching the number of players, and give 1 clue book to each player based on the symbol shown
7
Identify your secret clue
The number on the card matches a number in your clue book; this is your hidden clue for the game
8
Understand distance
Any hex on the board is considered 0 spaces away from itself

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Choose an action
You must either Question or Search on your turn
2
Questioning action
Place the pawn on a space and ask any 1 player "could the creature be here?"
3
Searching action
Place the pawn and 1 of your discs on a space and declare a search
4
Place pieces honestly
You must always place pieces according to your actual clue
5
Respect cube restrictions
You cannot question, search, or place additional pieces on a space containing any cube
6
Follow placement rules
Only a single cube can occupy any space, but any number of discs are allowed
7
Avoid duplicate pieces
If 1 of your pieces is on a space, you cannot add another of your pieces there
8
Structure spaces
You can place on a space with a structure, but not with another player's cube
9
Piece permanence
Pieces are never moved or removed from the board once placed
10
Request a hint
If all players agree (or all but 1 in 4-5 player games), use the card to find the Hint number in the back of the rules

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
Win by successful search
If you declare a search and no other player places a cube (all place discs or pass), you win the game
2
Identify the creature's habitat
The winning space is the one location that satisfies all players' secret clues simultaneously

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

How to Play Cryptid

How to Play Cryptid

Instructional

Instructivo del canal Meeplemotoquero

Instructivo del canal Meeplemotoquero

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FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

PDF RULEBOOK

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