
- BGG rank
- BGG #464
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Mysterium
- 2–7 players
- 42 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2015

Rules assistance for Meschugge
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.
Meschugge is a board game released in 1988 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Pattern Recognition.
Cards have a color word on it and a color on it, not generally the same. For example, the word "blue" might be in red. Each person has a hand of such cards. A card is revealed from a deck. A die is rolled and results in "WORD" or "COLOR". The goal of the game is to be the first person to put down a correct card, where correct is: WORD: a card the color of the word of the revealed card. COLOR: a card with the word that is the color of the revealed card. For example, if the card is a blue card with the word "red" and WORD is rolled, then you must play a red card from hand (not one that says red). If COLOR is rolled you must play a card with the word blue. Clear? Well, I suppose it isn't supposed to be. Things are spiced up by not being allowed to play if a card which describes itself is revealed (a red card saying "red" for example"), and by having a special "contra" call when you play the reverse card of the one shown (red card saying "blue" is contra blue card saying red.)
Meschugge supports 2–4 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 Meschugge is 20 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 Meschugge for ages 8 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.
Meschugge has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Meschugge belongs to these categories: Party Game and Real-time. 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 catalogue lists Meschugge 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.