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Stop Thief
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- BGG rating
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Merlin
1978
Rules assistance for Merlin
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 1 min
- 7+
- Complexity 1.5/5
Rules assistant for Merlin
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Merlin is a board game released in 1978 for 1–2 players, 1 minute per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Robert Doyle and its main mechanics are Memory.
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About the game
Parker Brothers' Merlin was a hand held electronic game following in the footsteps of Simon, which had been introduced a year earlier by rival game company, Milton Bradley. Many of us who were kids in the seventies will remember its distinctive red plastic, telephone-shaped appearance. Although less colorful than Simon, Merlin featured six different games, namely tic-tac-toe, music machine, echo, blackjack 13, magic square, and secret number. It was even possible to save games and select your level of difficulty on a scale of 1-9. In 1999, Merlin became available once again on the internet as a free download for your PC.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Parker Brothers
- Hasbro
- Alga
- Miro Company
- Clipper
- Palitoy Ltd.
- Milton Bradley
Questions and answers
Merlin supports 1–2 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 Merlin is 1 minute. 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 Merlin 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.
Merlin 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.
Merlin belongs to these categories: Children's Game, Deduction, and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Memory. 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 Merlin are: Robert Doyle. 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 Merlin 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.