- BGG rank
- BGG #3,682
- BGG rating
- 6.5
David & Goliath
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1997
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,469
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Sherlock
1999
Rules assistance for Sherlock
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- 5+
- Complexity 1.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Sherlock
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sherlock is a board game released in 1999 for 2–5 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. It was designed by Reinhard Staupe and its main mechanics are Memory.
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About the game
Sherlock is a children’s memory style card game, with one card showing Sherlock and 49 cards showing an image, an arrow, and a number from 1-4. Players lay eight of the 49 cards face-up in a circle, with the draw pile in the middle. Before beginning the game, players take some time to memorize the images on the cards in the circle, after which all the clue cards are turned over. At the beginning of a player's turn, s/he places the Sherlock card next to a card, then names the object on the card Sherlock is next to and turns the card over to check. If s/he is correct, s/he moves around the circle, in the direction of the arrow, the number of spaces specified by the number on the card. S/he then guesses the object on that next card; if s/he is incorrect, all the cards are turned over again for the next player. If s/he is correct, however, s/he continues moving the Sherlock card around the circle in the same fashion. If the Sherlock card lands at a card that is already face up, the player takes that card and her/his turn is over. A new card is turned over from the draw pile, everyone takes a moment to memorize it, all cards in the circle are turned over, and play resumes with the next player beginning their turn. The first player to collect 6 cards wins.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- AMIGO
- MINDOK
- Educa Korea
- Kanga Games
- Yes Papa Games
- Playroom Entertainment
- FoxMind Israel
- Staupe Spiele
Questions and answers
Sherlock supports 2–5 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 Sherlock 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 Sherlock for ages 5 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.
Sherlock has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Sherlock belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Children's Game. Its main mechanics are Memory. 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 Sherlock are: Reinhard Staupe. 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 Sherlock 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.