Concept

Repos Production, ADC Blackfire Entertainment, asmodee · Board game · 2013
4–12 · best 6 40 min Weight 1.4/5
7.5 rating Ludopedia
6.7 rating BGG
7.5 rating Ludopedia
6.7 rating BGG
Our Verdict

Perfect for parties and large groups who enjoy logic and association challenges. It's like a modern 'Pictionary' but without the mess of paper and pens.

Highlights
  • Super intuitive association mechanics
  • Supports large groups (up to 12 players)
  • Stimulates lateral thinking
  • Fast and fluid game dynamics
Keep in mind
  • Language dependency for the cards
  • Some icons can be ambiguous
RECOMMENDED
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About the game
Ever wondered how to explain who Leonardo DiCaprio is without saying a single word, without charades, and without drawing? That's exactly what Concept does, and it does it brilliantly. Instead of speaking, you use a board filled with icons representing categories, colors, shapes, and concepts. The goal is straightforward: guess the secret word or phrase through the association of these images.

Here's how it works: two players (sitting side-by-side) form the 'clue-giving' team. They pick a concept and start placing colored cubes on the board's icons to guide the other players. If the word is 'milk', they might place the question mark marker (indicating the main concept) on the 'liquid' icon, then use cubes to point toward 'white' and 'food/drink'. The rest of the group then starts shouting guesses until someone hits the mark.

The game scales in complexity as the challenges get tougher. For more abstract ideas, the duo can use sub-concepts. Want to explain a famous actor? First, you indicate it's a person, then that they are in cinema, and then you start giving clues about specific movies they starred in, such as 'Titanic' or 'Inception'. It's a fascinating mental exercise that turns communication into a visual puzzle.

Scoring is dynamic: the first person to guess the word gets the most points, but the clue-giving team also earns points for their efficiency. In the end, the player with the most points wins. It's the perfect kind of game for when you want to gather a large crowd, as it supports up to 12 people, turning the room into a giant debate of deductions and laughter. It's intuitive, quick to learn, and sparks funny discussions about how different people associate ideas.
Rules videos

In English

BEST PLAYER COUNT
4 REC
5 REC
6 BEST
7 REC
8 BEST
9 REC
10 REC
11 REC
12 OK
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Game details

Families

Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena Mechanism: Give a Clue / Get a Clue Organizations: Forgenext
Publisher Repos Production, ADC Blackfire Entertainment, asmodee, Asterion Press, Galápagos Jogos, Gémklub, Hobby Japan, Kaissa Chess & Games, Korea Boardgames, Lautapelit.fi, Lifestyle Boardgames Ltd, Rebel Sp. z o.o., Rozum, Sombreros Production
Designer Alain Rivollet, Gaëtan Beaujannot
Artist Cédric Chevalier, Éric Azagury
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the game hard to learn?
Not at all! The rules are very simple, and most people grasp the logic within the first two minutes of play.
How many people can play?
From 4 to 12 players. It's ideal for those who want to involve a whole crowd in a single activity.
How long does a game last?
Around 40 minutes, but since it's a party game, you can adjust the duration based on the number of words used.
Is there a language barrier?
The word cards are often in English, so you might need a translated list or someone to translate them on the fly.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, as long as they have a basic understanding of categories and associations. It's great for boosting kids' vocabulary.
Is the game complex?
No, the weight is low. The challenge isn't in the rules, but in the creativity of the clues and the speed of the guesses.