
- BGG rank
- BGG #901
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Detective Club
- 4–8 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2018

2021
Rules assistance for Dubious
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dubious is a board game released in 2021 for 3–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Dave Neale and its main mechanics are Storytelling, Role Playing, and Voting.
Doubt is in the air! How much can you tell about a person from their clothes or moods? Is it possible to work out their occupation or secret by what they have in their bag? That's what you'll have to do. Answer five questions and listen carefully to what others have to say about themselves. Try to guess who's who and become the shrewdest detective ever! Dubious is a game of deduction in which each player creates a story for their character and tries to get the majority of the players to guess their occupation and secret. At the same time, each player has to listen carefully to what others have to say about themselves and prove their detective finesse. —description from the publisher
Dubious supports 3–6 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 Dubious is 30 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 Dubious 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.
Dubious has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Dubious belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Storytelling, Role Playing, and Voting. 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 Dubious are: Dave Neale. 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 Dubious 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.