- BGG rank
- BGG #29,096
- BGG rating
- 5.0
Happiness
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 1972
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,774
- BGG rating
- 4.7
Mystery Date
1965
Rules assistance for Mystery Date
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 7+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Mystery Date
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mystery Date is a board game released in 1965 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Marvin Glass and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Roll / Spin and Move.
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About the game
A large white door located in the center of the board has five 'dates' waiting inside. Depending on how the doorknob is rotated, a different guy will 'appear' when the door is opened. Players try to collect a set of four cards. Each set of four cards corresponds to one of the 'dates' hidden behind the door (apart from the infamous 'dud'). Gameplay is determined by the instructions on the square a particular player lands on. Cards may be taken from the draw or discard pile, or from other players. When a player holds a correct set of four cards and lands on an 'open door' square the door is opened, revealing the date. If the cards do not correspond to the date, the player's turn ends but their set of cards are retained. If the 'dud' date is revealed, all cards held by the player are lost and replaced with a fresh set from the draw pile. If the correct date appears when the door is opened the game is over and the player opening the door wins the game. This game was first released in a white box in 1965 and had a 'groovy' upgrade in the early seventies with new artwork. Re-implemented by: Mystery Date?
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Hasbro
- Winning Solutions (WS Game Company)
- Milton Bradley
Questions and answers
Mystery Date 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 Mystery Date 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 Mystery Date 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.
Mystery Date has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Mystery Date belongs to these categories: Children's Game, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Electronic. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Roll / Spin and Move. 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 Mystery Date are: Marvin Glass. 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 Mystery Date 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.