- BGG rank
- BGG #3,780
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Adventure Games: The Grand Hotel Abaddon
- 1–4 players
- 270 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,239
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Platypus
2021
Rules assistance for Platypus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Platypus
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Platypus is a board game released in 2021 for 2–8 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Phil Walker-Harding and its main mechanics are Cooperative Game and Communication Limits.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,154
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Adventure Games: Im Nebelreich
- 1–4 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,244
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Snakesss
- 4–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,329
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Mysterium Park
- 2–6 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,504
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Fiesta de los Muertos
- 4–8 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,580
- BGG rating
- 7.1
The Same Game
- 3–6 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,119
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Opération Zèbre
- 2–12 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #160
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Just One
- 3–7 players
- 20–60 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #463
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Mysterium
- 2–7 players
- 42 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,014
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Letter Jam
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,346
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Obscurio
- 2–8 players
- 40 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,300
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Unusual Suspects
- 3–16 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2015
About the game
Acid? Dangerous? Annoying? A car saleswoman! Edible? Quick? Flexible? Captain America — or an ostrich? In Platypus, players co-operate to gradually eliminate bad words in order to find and identify the "platypus" through their adjective cards. To set up, eight common words or proper names — the "platypus" cards — are placed face up in front of all the players. The guides know the card that the explorers must guess, and to help the explorers, they give clues in the form of adjective cards that best define the platypus for them. Each guide has a hand of four clue cards, and after each new clue, the explorers must eliminate one or two cards that they think don't match what's being defined by the clues. If the explorers eliminate the platypus, then everyone loses; if they succeed four times, however, then the platypus will stand alone and everyone wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Matagot
- AURUM, Inc.
- Lavka Games
- Arrakis Games
- Lord of Boards
Questions and answers
Platypus supports 2–8 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 Platypus 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 Platypus 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.
Platypus 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.
Platypus belongs to these categories: Party Game and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Cooperative Game and Communication Limits. 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 Platypus are: Phil Walker-Harding. 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 Platypus 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.