
- BGG rank
- BGG #298
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
- 4–12 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2014

1993
Rules assistance for Nonsense Classic
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.
Nonsense Classic is a board game released in 1993 for 3–8 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Bernard Ralet and Véronique Houbaert and its main mechanics are Storytelling.
This is the published version of what is really a public domain game. Players tell a story with specific theme, and must use certain words within that story. The other players guess which words they had to use. This game is also known as Bla Bla Bla. In 2010, persuaded by repeated requests from the public who were trying to buy the game, Véronique Houbaert and Marcel Veelo decided to re-enter the publishing world and give Editions du Hibou a new lease of life. They examined the game closely and decided to give it a new name - Nonsense -, new cubic packaging and simplified rules which preserved only its essence!
Nonsense Classic supports 3–8 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 Nonsense Classic 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 Nonsense Classic 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.
Nonsense Classic 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.
Nonsense Classic belongs to these categories: Party Game. Its main mechanics are Storytelling. 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 Nonsense Classic are: Bernard Ralet and Véronique Houbaert. 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 Nonsense Classic 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.