Dixit (board game)

Dixit
Old box cover of Dixit
DesignersJean-Louis Roubira [fr]
Illustrators
PublishersLibellud [fr]
Publication2008; 16 years ago (2008)
Players3 to 6
Playing time30 minutes
Websitewww.libellud.com

Dixit (Latin: dixit, Latin pronunciation: [ˈdiːksit], "he/she/it said"), is a French board game created by Jean-Louis Roubira [fr], illustrated by Marie Cardouat, and published by Libellud [fr]. Using a set of cards illustrated with dreamlike images, players select cards that match a title suggested by the designated storyteller player, and attempt to guess which card the storyteller selected. The game was introduced in 2008. Dixit won the 2010 Spiel des Jahres award.[1]

Gameplay

A game of Dixit in progress. Six cards have been dealt out and voted on, and the storyteller is indicating which story belonged to them. To the right, scores are tracked by rabbit-shaped tokens on a scoring track.

Each player is dealt six cards to start the game from a shuffled deck, which becomes the draw pile. For a three-player game, each player is dealt seven cards instead.[2] Each player takes a turn as the storyteller.

The storyteller looks at the six cards in their hand and selects one, composing a sentence or phrase that might describe it and says it out loud, without showing the card to the other players.[3] The storyteller's goal is to provide a description that is ambiguous enough that not all other players will recognize the card, yet relevant enough that some will.[4]

Every other (non-storyteller) player then selects one card from their own hand which best matches the sentence given by the storyteller. In a three-player game, the two non-storyteller players each select two cards from their hand.[2] Then each non-storyteller player gives the selected card(s) to the storyteller face down, without showing it to the others. The storyteller shuffles the card they had described with the cards received from the other players, and all of the selected cards are then dealt face up. The minimum number of cards in the tableau for voting is five, from a three or four player game.[2]

Each player (except for the storyteller) then secretly guesses which picture was the storyteller's, using numbered voting chips. Each voting player cannot vote for the card(s) they had selected for the tableau. For games with seven or more players (under the Odyssey rules), each voting player may vote for a second image.[5] Once the votes have been revealed, scoring is based on the number of votes that correctly guessed the storyteller's card.

After voting and scoring are complete for the turn, the cards in the tableau are moved to a discard pile, face-up. Each player draws one new card from the draw pile so that everyone starts the next turn with six cards in their hand. Again, in a three-player game, the non-storyteller players each draw two cards, while the storyteller draws one to maintain seven cards in their hand. If there are not enough cards remaining in the draw pile, the discard pile is shuffled into the draw pile. For the next turn, the player to the left of the storyteller becomes the new storyteller.

Scoring

Scoring according to Dixit revised rules

The original rules were revised after publication.[6]

The storyteller scores points if some, but not all, players guess correctly; the other players score points individually for having correctly guessed the storyteller's card, or if another player or players select the card they originally gave to the storyteller. In addition, if none of the players guessed correctly, the players receive points while the storyteller does not.

Points received per Dixit turn for a game with n players[2]
Number of Storyteller card votes Storyteller Each non-storyteller player
Basic score Bonus points
n-1 (all players voted for the storyteller's card) 0 2 (each) N/A
0 (no players voted for the storyteller's card) 1 (for each vote received)[a][b]
1 (for single vote)[c]
≥1 and <n-1 (at least one, but not all players voted for the storyteller's card) 3 3 (for each player that voted for the storyteller's card)
0 (for each player that voted for another card)
Notes
  1. ^ In the original rules, players who did not find the storyteller's card were ineligible for bonus points.[citation needed] In the revised rules, each of the other players receive +1 bonus point per vote for their own card.[7]
  2. ^ A maximum of three bonus points are awarded under Odyssey rules.[5]
  3. ^ Voting players who selected the storyteller's card and only voted once receive a bonus point, for 7+ player games under Odyssey rules.[5]

The players move their rabbits along the track on the board according to the points scored.

Endgame

In the original rules, the winner is the first player to reach 30 points. In the revised rules, the winner is the player with the most points when the last card is drawn.

Equipment

All basic editions of the game come with 84 illustrated cards.

The original published versions were limited to six players by providing six wooden rabbit markers and thirty-six voting tokens (six color-coordinated sets, each numbered one to six).[8] The 2021 refreshed edition accommodates up to eight players, with eight voting dials, eight wooden rabbit markers, and one game board. The game board has a scoring track, eight card slots, and a graphical aid as a reminder of the scoring system.[2]

Other editions

An iOS app for Dixit was released in 2011.[9] An updated version, named Dixit World, was announced in 2018 for iOS and Android.[10] Dixit World beta testing began in 2020.[11]

Dixit Odyssey game in progress, showing scoring track with 12 card slots

Multiple versions of the game have been published, with minor updates to the equipment included with the original edition in 2012 and again in 2021.

Expansion sets, each containing 84 cards, were published starting in 2010.

A version for up to 12 players was published in 2011 (Dixit Odyssey), both as a standalone game and as an expansion for owners of the original game. Odyssey has slightly revised rules for games with a larger number of players.[5] The revised equipment for Odyssey includes 12 voting boards, rather than voting tile sets, and 24 pegs that fit in the holes of the voting board to register votes.[12]

Dixit versions and expansions[13]
No. Name Year Cards included Artist Notes
− Dixit ("International Rules")[14] 2008 84 Marie Cardouat Original printing, scoring track built into box, 3–6 players.
− Dixit Odyssey[15][16] 2011 84 Pierre Lechevalier and Marie Cardouat Accommodates 3–12 players. Features updated artwork; illustrations by Pierre Lechevalier (Pierô), with color by Cardouat.
− Dixit ("Family") 2012 84 Marie Cardouat 2012 update, distinguished by "Family" printed on front with green background. Folding scoring track, 3–6 players; box holds 336 cards.
− Dixit (2021 refresh) 2021 Accommodates 3–8 players, slightly different equipment (voting dials instead of tiles).
− Dixit Odyssey[17] 2011 — — Additional rabbit tokens and voting tiles for up to 12 players; no cards included
2 Quest[18] 2010 84 Marie Cardouat
3 Journey[19][20] 2012 84 Xavier Collette [fr] Also released as a standalone version in the United States by Asmodee, with plastic pawns and folding board
4 Origins[21] 2013 84 Clément Lefèvre
5 Daydreams[22] 2014 84 Franck Dion [fr]
6 Memories[23] 2015 84 Carine Hinder and Jérôme Pélissier
7 Revelations[24] 2016 84 Marina Coudray
8 Harmonies[25] 2017 84 Paul Echegoyen [fr]
9 Anniversary[16][26] 2018 84 (multiple) Includes image cards from the artists that created Dixit expansion sets
10 Mirrors[27] 2020 84 Sébastien Telleschi
11 MNK 2023 84 (multiple) Cooperation between National Museum in Kraków, Libellud Studio and Rebel Publishing House[28][29]

Dixit Party

Dixit Party is a variation for six or more players, contained in the rules of Dixit Odyssey.[5]

In Dixit Party, each player receives five image cards (instead of six) and takes a green voting token, except for the storyteller, who takes a red token. The storyteller looks at their hand and speaks a phrase that is not related to any image card in their hand. Play then proceeds according to the regular rules, with all players, including the storyteller, selecting an image card that best matches the phrase; the selected image cards are shuffled and placed face-up in a tableau. Each player votes for the image card they feel best matches the phrase.

The image card that receives the most votes will score points for each player that voted for it, up to a maximum of five points; for example, if the most popular image card received eight votes, the score would be capped at five points each for the eight players that voted for it. However, the storyteller also has a vote (using the red token) and anyone who voted for the image card also voted by the storyteller will receive no points. A player that voted for an image that received only one vote also scores no points.

Team Dixit

Team Dixit is a variation for an even number of six or more players, playing in teams of two, contained in the rules of Dixit Odyssey.[5]

In Team Dixit, each individual player receives four cards each. After the storyteller gives the clue, the storyteller's teammate hands a card to the storyteller for the tableau (i.e., that team contributes two cards), and each other team hands in a single card for the tableau. Each other team may discuss which card they will turn in, provided the conversation takes place in front of the other players and neither teammate shows their cards. Both the storyteller and their teammate are not allowed to vote.

Scoring is the same as regular Dixit, and the game ends when each player has had a chance to be the storyteller.

Spin-offs

Dixit Jinx

Sample tableau in Dixit Jinx, with position card indicating lower right corner

Dixit Jinx is a spin-off with a similar gameplay mechanic of describing cards in a tableau, published in 2012.[30] However, Jinx uses a streamlined set of equipment and more abstract images. It was designed by Josep M. Allué and illustrated by Dominique Ehrhard.[31] Play has been described as a cross between Dixit and Jungle Speed.[32]

Jinx has 71 image cards and 9 position cards. To start, the image card deck is pared down according to the number of players and shuffled to form the draw pile:

  • 3 players: 30 image cards are removed, 41 image cards remain
  • 4 players: 20 image cards are removed, 51 image cards remain
  • 5 players: 10 image cards are removed, 61 image cards remain
  • 6 players: All 71 image cards remain

9 of the image cards are drawn from the shuffled image card deck and placed face-up in a 3×3 array. The youngest player is the first active player, shuffling the position card deck and drawing one, but not revealing it to the other players. The position card drawn indicates which of the image cards in the 3×3 tableau has been selected as the active player's image card, which they describe verbally with a clue.

Once the clue is announced, each of the other players selects the most appropriate card by placing their finger on the card. Only one finger is allowed per card, so if two (or more) players select the same card, the first player that shouts "Jinx" keeps their selection, while the other(s) must select a different card. Once a card is selected by a player, the active player indicates if that player has correctly guessed the active player's image card. If the guess is incorrect, the player making the incorrect guess removes their finger and is not allowed to continue guessing. If the guess is correct, the turn ends. Any card selections remaining after the correct guess are ignored.

  • The active player's image card is moved in front of the player who correctly guessed it.
  • Image cards that were guessed incorrectly prior to the correct guess are taken off the tableau and placed in front of the active player.
  • If the selected image card is guessed correctly by the first player to select a card in the tableau, one image card is removed from the pile of the active player and returned to the bottom of the deck.
  • The remaining cards in the tableau are moved to the discard pile. If the selected image card is not correctly guessed, all of the cards in the tableau are discarded.

The game ends when a 3×3 square tableau can no longer be made from the remaining image cards in the draw pile. The winner is the player with the most image cards at the end of the game.

Stella

Stella – Dixit Universe is a related game designed by Gérald Cattiaux and Jean-Louis Roubira, with artwork by Jérôme Pélissier, first published in October 2021.[33]

Stella has a similar illustrated 84-card deck that is compatible with Dixit, but the gameplay is different, facilitated by the following equipment:

  • 110 Word Cards, divided as:
    • 96 Two-Word Cards
    • 4 Discovery Word Cards
    • 10 Custom Word Cards
  • 10 tokens, divided as:
    • 6 Lantern Tokens (double-sided)
    • 4 Round Tokens (numbered I to IV)
  • 1 First Scout Pawn
  • 6 Erasable Personal Slates
  • 1 Erasable Scoring Slate

To start, the image deck is shuffled and 15 cards are dealt face-up to form a tableau of 3 rows and 5 columns next to the game board. The 96 word card deck is shuffled and 4 cards are dealt face-down next to the tableau as a draw pile. For beginners, it is suggested the Discovery Word sub-deck is used instead. One personal slate is distributed to each player, and one of the players is selected to start the game, by giving them the First Scout Pawn.[34]

The designated scout flips the first word card over and reads it aloud, which becomes the clue word for the first of four rounds. By mutual agreement, the players may choose to use the alternate word on the word card. The Personal Slate includes a reproduction of the game board, which provides a consistent orientation for all players. Each player then associates from 1 to 10 cards in the tableau with the clue word, by marking the associated card positions on the Personal Slate with a cross.[34]

After each player has completed their card selection, they announce the number of cards they had selected and place their lantern token on the game board, lighted side up. If one player has selected more cards than the others, that player must turn their lantern token over, dark side up, indicating they are in the dark. If the maximum number of cards are selected by more than one player, no further action is required and all players remain in the light.[34]

The scout starts the matching phase of the game by pointing to one of the cards in the tableau which they had selected. All players (including the scout) who selected the same card receive a spark and fill in two stars on their Personal Slate matching that card position. If only one other player (in addition to the scout) selected the same card, those two players receive a super spark and fill in three stars on their Personal Slate. If no players selected the same card, the scout has fallen: they are unable to continue filling stars or bonus stars for this round, and the First Scout Token is passed on to the next player. Because the scout's turn continues until that scout has fallen, the scout should start with the most obvious match first, to ensure they can accumulate some sparks. The round continues until all players have fallen, or the players who have not served as scout have no cards left to confirm.[34]

The score for each round is the number of stars that were filled during that round on each player's Personal Slate. If a player is in the dark, their score is penalized by -1 for each match (e.g., 1 point for a spark and 2 points for a super spark) unless all the cards they had selected resulted in a spark or super spark. In that case, the player in the dark did not fall and they score full points for each match.[34]

To set up the next round, the Word Card that was used is returned to the box, the First Scout Pawn is passed clockwise, and the active round token is flipped over, which indicates which row of image cards in the tableau should be replaced. The winner is the player that accumulates the most points through four rounds.[34]

Reception

Dixit has received highly positive reviews and over 30 awards and nominations.[35] BGL described it as a card game that "allows creativity and imagination to run riot",[36] while Shut Up & Sit Down referred to it as "one of those very special game ideas that makes the most of the human brain while also keeping its rules to a minimum".[4] Father Geek noted that Dixit is "one of those rare games that can be played with a mixed age and skill group with little to no difficulty".[37] The Dixit expansions have also been well received by critics.[38]

In a review of Dixit in Black Gate, Andrew Zimmerman Jones found the illustrations on the cards "attractive", and the cards in the expansions "fantastic".[39]

Dixit was featured in a 2012 episode of TableTop, a web video series hosted by Wil Wheaton and broadcast on Felicia Day's YouTube channel Geek & Sundry.[40] The episode showed a match between Leo Chu, Casey McKinnon, Beth Riesgraf, and Wheaton, won by Riesgraf.[41]

The game mechanic of submitting a response has been compared to the contemporary Apples to Apples and the earlier game Balderdash, which has players vote for submitted responses.[42]

Awards

Jean-Louis Roubira, designer of the game Dixit.
  • 2009 As d'Or – Jeu de l'Année Winner[43]
  • 2009 Juego del Año Winner[44]
  • 2009 Lys Grand Public Winner[45]
  • 2010 Games Magazine Best New Party Game of the Year Award Winner[46]
  • 2010 Spiel Des Jahres Winner[47]
  • 2010 Vuoden Peli Family Game of the Year Winner[48]
  • 2010 Hungarian Board Game Award Winner[49]
  • 2010 Hra roku Winner[50]
  • 2011 Ludoteca Ideale Official Selection Winner[51]

See also

References

  1. ^ Godbolt, Nickolas (2014-10-05). A Beginners Guide to Dixit (Volume 1). MicJames. Retrieved 2015-05-01.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b c d e "Dixit Rulebook (US-UK-AU)" (PDF). Libellud. March 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  3. ^ Perling, Anna; Austin, James (9 December 2019). "The best beginner board games for adults". The Wirecutter. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Review: Dixit". Shut Up & Sit Down. 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Dixit Odyssey Rules" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Official Dixit Board Game Rules". officialgamerules.
  7. ^ "Règles Dixit" [Dixit Rules] (PDF) (in French). Libellud. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2009.
  8. ^ "Dixit rules" (PDF). Régis Bonnessée. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  9. ^ "iDixit on the App Store on iTunes". iTunes Store. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  10. ^ "Dixit World brings the storytelling card game to iOS and Android for free". Tabletop Gaming UK. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  11. ^ Gregson-Wood, Stephen (April 29, 2020). "Dixit World, the mobile adaptation of the popular board game, will begin beta testing for iOS and Android on May 18th". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Dixit Odyssey" (in French). Libellud. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23.
  13. ^ List of Libellud's games Archived 2019-09-12 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2019-11-22
  14. ^ Cardouat, Marie. "Dixit Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Dixit Odyssey". Libellud. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  16. ^ a b "Dixit 10th Anniversary: Livret des récits" [Dixit 10th Anniversary: Booklet of stories] (PDF) (in French). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  17. ^ Lechevalier, Pierre; Cardouat, Marie (13 February 2023). "Dixit Odyssey Overview" (PDF). Libellud.
  18. ^ Cardouat, Marie. "Dixit 2: Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  19. ^ Collette, Xavier. "Dixit 3: Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Dixit Journey". Asmodee US. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013.
  21. ^ Lefèvre, Clément. "Dixit 4: Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  22. ^ Dion, Franck. "Dixit 5: Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  23. ^ Hinder, Carine; Pèlissier, Jérôme. "Dixit 6: Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  24. ^ Coudray, Marina. "Dixit 7: Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  25. ^ Echegoyen, Paul. "Dixit 8: Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  26. ^ "Dixit 9: Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  27. ^ Telleschi, Sébastien. "Dixit 10: Overview" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie - zbiory cyfrowe". zbiory.mnk.pl. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  29. ^ "Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie - zbiory cyfrowe". zbiory.mnk.pl. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  30. ^ "Dixit Jinx est disponible!" [Dixit Jinx is available!] (Press release) (in French). Libellud. September 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012.
  31. ^ "Dixit Jinx" (PDF). December 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  32. ^ "Dixit Jinx". Asmodee US. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013.
  33. ^ "Stella – Dixit Universe". Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  34. ^ a b c d e f "Stella Rules (English)" (PDF). Libellud. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  35. ^ "Dixit". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  36. ^ "Best Party Board Games (Reviewed Feb 19.) - BGL's Top 10". Board Games Land. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  37. ^ Cyrus | (2011-03-10). "Dixit Game Review". Father Geek. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  38. ^ "Dixit expansions reviewed". Board Game Theories. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  39. ^ "It Came from GenCon 2012: Young Kid Edition – Black Gate". 30 August 2012.
  40. ^ Morgan, Matt (March 20, 2012). "Details Emerge on Wheaton-Hosted 'Tabletop' Gaming Web Series". MTV. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  41. ^ Liu, Jonathan H. (September 6, 2012). "TableTop Tells Tales in Dixit". Wired. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  42. ^ Willer, Elizabeth (February 5, 2021). "Art Cards Games". The Board Game Barrister. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  43. ^ "2009 As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année Winners". Archived from the original on April 14, 2016.
  44. ^ "Premio JdA 2009: Dixit – Premio JdA".
  45. ^ "2009 Les Trois Lys Award Winners". Archived from the original on 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  46. ^ "2010 Games Magazine Award Winners". Archived from the original on December 19, 2015.
  47. ^ "Spiel des Jahres e.V. -". spiel-des-jahres.com.
  48. ^ "Top 10 (2010)". Lautapelit.fi. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  49. ^ "Hungarian Board Game Award 2010 | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  50. ^ "Hra roku". hraroku.cz. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  51. ^ "Ludoteca ideale 2011". hobbygiochi.com. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
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