
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,736
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Merchants of Araby
- 2–5 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017

2015
Rules assistance for Cunning Folk
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.
Cunning Folk is a board game released in 2015 for 2–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Jay E. Treat, III and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Player Elimination, and Memory.
Rival witch covens have been warring for the souls of Ipswich's townsfolk for years, but it ends now. You’ve been tasked to search home by home to find the witches and end this feud. Cunning Folk is a micro game of bluffing and deduction. You are townsfolk, investigating the houses of Ipswich for witches, good and evil. Look at a card and tell your friends which character you see to use its ability. Of course, you could lie. Your opponents might call you out, but everyone should tread carefully: Wrong once, and the town suspects you of witchcraft. Twice, and you are ostracized! Keep your wits about you and—if you lie, do it well.
Cunning Folk supports 2–4 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 Cunning Folk is 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 Cunning Folk 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.
Cunning Folk has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Cunning Folk belongs to these categories: Card Game, Print & Play, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Player Elimination, and Memory. 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 Cunning Folk are: Jay E. Treat, III. 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 Cunning Folk 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.