- BGG rank
- BGG #11,220
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Quirks
- 1–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1980
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,856
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Hoax (Second Edition)
2016
Rules assistance for Hoax (Second Edition)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 10–20 min
- 14+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Hoax (Second Edition)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hoax (Second Edition) is a board game released in 2016 for 3–6 players, 10–20 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, Peter Olotka, and Edward Horn, Jr. and its main mechanics are Memory and Voting.
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About the game
When an unscrupulous business magnate meets an undignified end, a fierce competition for his estate begins. In Hoax, three to six players each take on the secret identity of a member of Vargas’ family or household. No matter what your identity, your goal is to eliminate all your competitors by catching them in a lie – but making a false accusation will take you out of the game. If you want to make informed accusations, you must amass resources and spend them to investigate other players. To win, you have to both avoid accusations and judiciously make them, all the while making your opponents believe that all your lies are true. Whoever is devious enough to outlast all the other players wins!
Publishers
- Edge Entertainment
- Delta Vision Publishing
- Fantasy Flight Games
- Heidelberger Spieleverlag
- Galakta
- Asterion Press
Questions and answers
Hoax (Second Edition) 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 Hoax (Second Edition) is 10–20 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 Hoax (Second Edition) for ages 14 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.
Hoax (Second Edition) 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.
Hoax (Second Edition) belongs to these categories: Party Game, Deduction, and Murder / Mystery. Its main mechanics are Memory 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 Hoax (Second Edition) are: Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, Peter Olotka, and Edward Horn, Jr.. 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 Hoax (Second Edition) 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.