- BGG rating
- 4.7
Pocket Enigma
- 2 players
- 1988
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,935
- BGG rating
- 4.6
Enigma
1988
Rules assistance for Enigma
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.0/5
Rules assistant for Enigma
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Enigma is a board game released in 1988 for 2–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Alexander Duncan and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point Movement.
Expansions
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About the game
The objective is to move your gaming piece through a maze, from a starting point on the outer edge of the board, to the finishing point, at the center of the board. Players take it in turns to roll a die and move their pawn the indicated number of spaces along the track. There are special spaces along the track where a player is asked to solve a riddle. If the player guesses incorrectly, the play moves to the next person. If the riddle is answered with the aid of a clue, the player may move four spaces , or jump over one wall of the maze. If the riddle is solved without the aid of a clue, the player may either, move seven spaces, jump over one wall and move forward four spaces, jump over two consecutive walls, or jump an opponents piece over one wall. There are other special spaces named 'pits of ignorance'. If a player lands on one of these spaces their turn ends. To get out they must answer a riddle correctly, without a clue, on their next turn. Upon answering a riddle the player rolls the dice and plays a normal turn. When a player moves their piece to the center of the board, they must answer a riddle correctly, without a clue, in order to win the game. If their answer is incorrect, their piece remains at the center of the board and another riddle is asked each subsequent turn.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Drumond Park Ltd.
Questions and answers
Enigma 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 Enigma is 60 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 Enigma for ages 12 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.
Enigma 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.
Enigma belongs to these categories: Party Game. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point Movement. 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 Enigma are: Alexander Duncan. 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 Enigma 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.