- BGG rank
- BGG #2,076
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Beyond Balderdash
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1993
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,836
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Malarky
1996
Rules assistance for Malarky
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.5/5
Rules assistant for Malarky
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Malarky is a board game released in 1996 for 3–6 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by David Feldman and its main mechanics are Voting.
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About the game
Malarky is a bluffing and trivia party game where players try to outwit each other by inventing believable answers to quirky questions. Each round, a reader selects a trivia question—often odd or humorous in nature—such as, “Why does Mickey Mouse have only four fingers?” One player receives the real answer hidden inside a wallet, while the others receive blank "bluff" cards. Players take turns reading their supposed answers aloud, making up explanations if needed. After all answers are read, players vote on which one they believe is the true explanation. Points are awarded for guessing correctly and for fooling others into believing your fake answer. With its blend of trivia and creativity, Malarky delivers hilarious results and fast-paced rounds, perfect for fans of Balderdash, Out of Context, or Fictionary/The Dictionary Game.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Alga
- N.W. Damm & Søn (Damm)
- Patch Products
- O2 Games, Inc.
Questions and answers
Malarky 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 Malarky 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 Malarky 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.
Malarky has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Malarky belongs to these categories: Party Game, Bluffing, and Trivia. Its main mechanics are 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 Malarky are: David Feldman. 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 Malarky 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.