
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,233
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Rival Restaurants
- 2–6 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2019

Rules assistance for Illiterati: Red Herrings and White Roses
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.
Illiterati: Red Herrings and White Roses is an expansion for Illiterati released in 2026 for 1–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Rob Chew and Gary Alaka and its main mechanics are Spelling, Cooperative Game, and Solo / Solitaire Game.
Red Herrings and White Roses is the first expansion for Illiterati that will feature new scenarios, new books, raid bosses called the Unwritten, and the heroic Protagonists who have come to your aid! Mix and match Protagonists from this expansion and all future ones to assemble your perfect team. Semper Lectio Librarians! Venture to the realm of Marquee where thieves and criminals loom the streets amidst the watchful eye of rough and tumble detectives OR stroll down the idyllic Novella Shoreline, where elegant skyscrapers and charming boutiques set the stage for chance encounters of the heart. —description from the publisher
Illiterati: Red Herrings and White Roses supports 1–5 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 Illiterati: Red Herrings and White Roses 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 Illiterati: Red Herrings and White Roses for ages 7 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.
Illiterati: Red Herrings and White Roses belongs to these categories: Word Game and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Spelling, Cooperative Game, and Solo / Solitaire Game. 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 Illiterati: Red Herrings and White Roses are: Rob Chew and Gary Alaka. 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 Illiterati: Red Herrings and White Roses as an expansion for Illiterati. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Illiterati to use it. Check that your edition of Illiterati is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.