- BGG rank
- BGG #278
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Codenames: Duet
- 2 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,880
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Doctor Esker's Notebook
2018
Rules assistance for Doctor Esker's Notebook
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–6 players
- 60–180 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Doctor Esker's Notebook
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Doctor Esker's Notebook is a board game released in 2018 for 1–6 players, 60–180 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by David Dobson and its main mechanics are Cooperative Game.
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About the game
Doctor Esker has vanished, leaving behind only a mysterious book full of puzzles written in his own hand. Nobody has cracked his cryptic codes yet. Are you up to the challenge? The game provides a deck of 73 cards which contain nine devious puzzles to solve. You can play through the puzzles solo or together with family and friends. Great for a party, a game night, or a lazy afternoon. Each puzzle is composed of a set of cards. You can solve the puzzle by reading, comparing, arranging and pondering the messages, drawings, and artwork on the cards. Solving the puzzle reveals a sequence of numbers. When you think you’ve got it, gather the solution cards corresponding to the number sequence and flip them. If you see a message or image, you’ve solved the puzzle. Persevere to the end and receive Dr. Esker's greatest praise.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Plankton Games
Questions and answers
Doctor Esker's Notebook supports 1–6 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 Doctor Esker's Notebook is 60–180 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 Doctor Esker's Notebook for ages 13 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.
Doctor Esker's Notebook has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Doctor Esker's Notebook belongs to these categories: Card Game, Word Game, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Cooperative Game. 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 Doctor Esker's Notebook are: David Dobson. 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 Doctor Esker's Notebook 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.