- BGG rank
- BGG #542
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Wavelength
- 2–12 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,126
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Subtext
2019
Rules assistance for Subtext
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4–8 players
- 20–40 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 4 players
Rules assistant for Subtext
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Subtext is a board game released in 2019 for 4–8 players, 20–40 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Wolfgang Warsch and its main mechanics are Paper-and-Pencil, Hidden Roles, and Voting.
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About the game
In Subtext, players try to communicate with one another by drawing hints about the word on their card. Drawing well is not required — just being clever in selecting your hints. Each round, one person is the dealer. This player looks at their word, then shuffles the card into the cards for the other players and distributes them randomly. By doing this, one player will have the same word as the dealer, but nobody — not even the dealer — knows who it is. The dealer then draws a picture, and you want to hint at your word so that ideally only the person who has the same word will understand what you're depicting. In the subsequent guessing phase, all players (including the dealer) guess which player got the same word as the dealer. Points are awarded based on the number of incorrect guesses, but the dealer and their partner have to guess correctly to even get points. How vague do you want to be in your drawing efforts to still get your message across without anyone else knowing it?
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Pegasus Spiele
- Broadway Toys LTD
- Stronghold Games
- Buly Games
- Compaya.hu: Gamer Café Kft.
- Act in games
- Edition Spielwiese
Questions and answers
Subtext supports 4–8 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 Subtext is 20–40 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 Subtext for ages 10 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.
Subtext 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.
Subtext belongs to these categories: Party Game. Its main mechanics are Paper-and-Pencil, Hidden Roles, and Voting. 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 Subtext are: Wolfgang Warsch. 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 Subtext 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.