- BGG rank
- BGG #5,044
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Alcatraz: The Scapegoat
- 3–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,891
- BGG rating
- 6.9
What Were You Thinking?
1998
Rules assistance for What Were You Thinking?
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4–10 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 4 players
Rules assistant for What Were You Thinking?
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
What Were You Thinking? is a board game released in 1998 for 4–10 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Richard Garfield and its main mechanics are Single Loser Game and Voting.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,823
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Vampire: The Eternal Struggle
- 2–5 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 1994
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,115
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Cockroach Poker
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,359
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Cockroach Poker Royal
- 2–6 players
- 15–25 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,010
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Nekojima
- 1–5 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,826
- BGG rating
- 6.8
How Dare You?
- 2–10 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,839
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Durak
- 2–6 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,988
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Aye, Dark Overlord! The Red Box
- 4–16 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,586
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Jenga
- 1–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1983
- BGG rank
- BGG #281
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Magical Athlete
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,202
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Hive Mind
- 3–12 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #928
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Rhino Hero: Super Battle
- 2–4 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2017
About the game
In What Were You Thinking?, the best answer to a question isn’t necessarily the correct answer. Instead, players want to come up with the same answer chosen by everybody else--whether it's right or wrong. Players take turns asking questions from the question cards. Everyone writes answers to each question, and everyone whose answer agrees with the majority is “right.” However, other players will be trying to guess what you will answer, so maybe you should give the answer you think is right. If you’re not careful you’ll find everyone asking, “What were you thinking?” The object of the game is to guess the most common answer (by the current players) to each question. If no one else answers the same way you do, you move up the penalty track...and maybe out of the game. When someone gets to the top of the penalty track, everyone else wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Wizards of the Coast
Questions and answers
What Were You Thinking? supports 4–10 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 What Were You Thinking? 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 What Were You Thinking? 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.
What Were You Thinking? 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.
What Were You Thinking? belongs to these categories: Party Game. Its main mechanics are Single Loser Game 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 What Were You Thinking? are: Richard Garfield. 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 What Were You Thinking? 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.