
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,985
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Midnight Taboo
- 4–99 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2016

2016
Rules assistance for Cranium Dark
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cranium Dark is a board game released in 2016 for 3–99 players and ages 18 and up. It was designed by Sophie Horton-Jones and its main mechanics are Singing, Line Drawing, and Acting.
From the publisher: Want to host an epic game night? This hilarious Cranium Dark game is sure to be a hit! You pick an Action card and show it to the rest of the players. Then pick a Cranium Card and keep it a secret. Without saying any of the words on the Cranium card, you must get the other players to guess what's on that Cranium card by expressing it in the style of the Action card. For example, can you get your friends to guess "milk a cow" while acting like a zombie -- or "fried chicken" while drawing with your eyes closed -- in just 60 seconds? Be the first player to collect 7 cards to win!
Cranium Dark supports 3–99 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 catalogue lists Cranium Dark for ages 18 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.
Cranium Dark has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Cranium Dark belongs to these categories: Humor, Party Game, and Mature / Adult. Its main mechanics are Singing, Line Drawing, and Acting. 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 Cranium Dark are: Sophie Horton-Jones. 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 Cranium Dark 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.