- BGG rank
- BGG #6,963
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Pick a Pen: Gardens
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,699
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Pick a Pen: Crypts
2023
Rules assistance for Pick a Pen: Crypts
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Pick a Pen: Crypts
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pick a Pen: Crypts is a board game released in 2023 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Paper-and-Pencil, Grid Coverage, and Drawing.
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About the game
Each turn in Pick a Pen: Crypts, the active player rolls the five colored pencils, then chooses one and marks spaces on their individual player sheet. Each other player in turn drafts a pencil and uses it. Pencils show symbols on their different sides, and the symbols on top of the chosen pencil determine what players do on their sheets. In this game, you want to fill in as many rows and columns as possible in an ancient crypt. You must progress in a row from left to right. When you fill a row, you can color in a symbol of your choice — and if you color a bold-framed symbol with the correct color, you can color another symbol as a bonus. Fill three spaces in a row or column with the same color, and you get a 3-point bonus; place every color in a row or column, and you score 5 bonus points instead. When one player has filled all of their symbols, the game ends, and whoever has the most points wins. Pick a Pen: Crypts includes three difficulty levels of player sheets, with different bonuses and effects on these sheets.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- AMIGO
- 999 Games
Questions and answers
Pick a Pen: Crypts 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 Pick a Pen: Crypts 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 Pick a Pen: Crypts 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.
Pick a Pen: Crypts has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Pick a Pen: Crypts belongs to these categories: Puzzle and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Paper-and-Pencil, Grid Coverage, and Drawing. 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 Pick a Pen: Crypts are: Reiner Knizia. 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 Pick a Pen: Crypts 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.