
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,488
- BGG rating
- 4.9
Sophie's World
- 2–6 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1998

Rules assistance for The Lost Words
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.
The Lost Words is a board game released in 2020 for 2–4 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Robert Hyde and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Matching.
The Lost Words is a card game based on the stunning book by best-selling author Robert Macfarlane and acclaimed illustrator of over forty beloved classics, Jackie Morris. The Lost Words is a simple draw/event/discard game with a take-that element via the action cards. The game is won by placing your spell (poem) cards over beautifully illustrated nature cards before your opponents. The players' quests will be blocked — or aided — by special action cards that create a most exciting dynamic throughout the game. The first player to match their four nature cards with the correct spell cards wins. --description from the publisher
The Lost Words 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 The Lost Words is 15–30 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 The Lost Words 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.
The Lost Words has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
The Lost Words belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Word Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Matching. 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 The Lost Words are: Robert Hyde. 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 The Lost Words 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.