
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,904
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Braintopia Beyond
- 2–6 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2018

2018
Rules assistance for Cortex + Challenge
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cortex + Challenge is a board game released in 2018 for 2–6 players, 10–15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Nicolas Bourgoin and Johan Benvenuto and its main mechanics are Memory and Pattern Recognition.
Cortex + Challenge tests up to 2-6 players’ memory, cognition, and sensory perception. It even includes texture cards that are used during "touch challenges" in which players must guess what they are feeling, adding a unique element that is often neglected in games. Winning challenges allows players to add pieces to their brain 3D puzzle which they must complete before their opponents in order to win the game. This game contains 170 new cards, including 9 new challenges and can be mixed with cortex 1, cortex 2, and/ cortex 3
Cortex + Challenge supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cortex + Challenge is 10–15 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Cortex + Challenge for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Cortex + Challenge has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Cortex + Challenge belongs to these categories: Card Game, Party Game, and Memory. Its main mechanics are Memory and Pattern Recognition. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Cortex + Challenge are: Nicolas Bourgoin and Johan Benvenuto. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Cortex + Challenge as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.