- BGG rating
- 7.5
Linqer
- 4–8 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,667
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Linq
2004
Rules assistance for Linq
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4–8 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.4/5
For 4 players
Rules assistant for Linq
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Linq is a board game released in 2004 for 4–8 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Andrea Meyer and Erik Nielsen and its main mechanics are Team-Based Game, Hidden Roles, and Voting.
Expansions
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About the game
Part word game, part bluffing game, part strategy game, LINQ is a team game in which you don't know who your partner is! Each round, two players will have cards with the same word on it, while the other players will have bluffing cards. The object of the game is to find out which two players have the same card — that is, which two players LINQ — by listening to the clue words that all the players give. For example, if the LINQ word is blue, a player holding that card might say ocean. A player who is bluffing might follow by saying shell. It's not yet clear who has the LINQ, until the other player can describe blue in a different context. After round one has been completed, players can guess who they think has the LINQ, or pass on guessing until after round two. When the LINQ is revealed, players earn 2 or 1 points for correctly guessing after, respectively, round one or round two. (The two players who are LINQed score only if they both identify one another.) The first player to score 10 points wins. It's a unique game in which you play as an individual but must rely on your partner — if only you know who that is!
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Arclight Games
- Popcorn Games
- Rexhry
- Magellan
- KOSMOS
- Endless Games (I)
- Evrikus
- OldChap Games
- BeWitched Spiele
- In ludo veritas
Questions and answers
Linq supports 4–8 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 Linq is 45 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 Linq 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.
Linq has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
Linq belongs to these categories: Word Game, Party Game, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Team-Based Game, Hidden Roles, 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 Linq are: Andrea Meyer and Erik Nielsen. 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 Linq 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.