
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,113
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Catch the Match
- 2–8 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 1995

1998
Rules assistance for Hocus Focus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hocus Focus is a board game released in 1998 for 2–8 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Reinhard Staupe and its main mechanics are Pattern Recognition.
The games consists of 30 cards each showing a wizard. The wizards are all different, being small, medium or large, and having different coloured shoes, cloaks, hats, and spells. Twelve cards are placed face up in the centre of the table, along with the face-down deck. One player turns over the card on top of the deck. All players now try to identify a card from the table which has nothing in common with the new card.
Hocus Focus supports 2–8 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 Hocus Focus is 10 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 Hocus Focus for ages 6 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.
Hocus Focus 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.
Hocus Focus belongs to these categories: Card Game, Children's Game, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Pattern Recognition. 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 Hocus Focus are: Reinhard Staupe. 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 Hocus Focus 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.