- BGG rank
- BGG #6,604
- BGG rating
- 6.3
The Big Idea
- 3–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2000
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- BGG #13,142
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Faces
2003
Rules assistance for Faces
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–8 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.1/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Faces
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Faces is a board game released in 2003 for 3–8 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by A. B. J. Lawson and its main mechanics are Player Judge and Voting.
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About the game
Description stolen from an excellent review by Blott Each player gets a pawn and places it on the start space of the score-track, and takes their set of number cards. The game is divided up into 2 separate rounds. In the first round, each player takes turns being the judge. The faces-line-up board is filled with 6 male faces. Then the judge reads an impressions card aloud. It will say something like "The Republican" or "The one who just ate something sour." Then the judge chooses which numbered face best fits the description and places that numbered card facedown on the table, and all the other players try to match the judge's number. Players that matched the judge move one space, and the judge moves one space for each player that matched. Then the selected face is replaced, and the judgeship passes to the next player. Once everyone has been the judge twice for Male faces, you do the same for Female faces, and then for Animal faces. The first round ends when everyone has been the judge 6 times (2 for each type of face.) In the second round, the number cards are put aside and players are dealt a hand made up of 2 Male, 2 Female, and 2 Animal faces. Players again take turns being the judge, and the judge again reads an Impressions card. Then the judge looks away and the other players put out a face from their hand that they think best matches the description. Once all the choices are out, the judge selects the best one. The player who played that face moves 3 spaces. The game ends as soon as someone makes it to the finish space. That player is the winner
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Piatnik
- Tactic
- Buffalo Games
Questions and answers
Faces supports 3–8 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 Faces 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 Faces for ages 10 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.
Faces 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.
Faces belongs to these categories: Party Game. Its main mechanics are Player Judge 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 Faces are: A. B. J. Lawson. 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 Faces 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.