Expressions

Barn Made Games, Salt & Pepper Games · Board game · 2024
6.5 Ludopedia 6.8 BGG 2–5 · best 4 5–20 min Weight 1.6/5
Buy · from US$ 5.67
6.5 rating Ludopedia
6.8 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

Perfect for those who love cooperative deduction games and want something quick to liven up the group.

Highlights
  • Genial card orientation mechanic
  • Fast and dynamic matches
  • Cooperative play creates great interaction
  • Very intuitive emotion theme
Keep in mind
  • Can be frustrating if the group isn't in sync
  • Heavily dependent on player perception
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Get ready to dive into a true whirlwind of feelings with Expressions! On paper, the goal is simple, but in practice, it's a challenge: you and your friends must work together to decipher which emotions are hidden in each other's hands. The game uses five thematic suits — anger, sadness, joy, fear, and disgust — and victory depends on the group's ability to maintain emotional balance. But don't think it's just about guessing! There's an interesting risk-reward system: you can choose to either play a card to provide clues or try to guess a teammate's emotion.

The real twist lies in the communication. Talking openly about the cards in your hand is strictly forbidden. To give your friends a hint, you must play your cards in one of four different orientations, and each position conveys a distinct piece of information. This is where the strategy kicks in: providing clues increases your 'Agony', while correct guesses bring 'Harmony'. The catch is that incorrect guesses spike your Agony even further, and if the stress level gets too high, defeat is inevitable. It's a game of pure deduction where the group's synergy is the only weapon to win. With fast and dynamic matches, Expressions is perfect for those who love social games that test perception and patience, turning the table into a social psychology lab where every move counts to prevent the team's emotional collapse.

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

1 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–5 players
2 OK
3 BEST
4 BEST
5 REC

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Categories

Families

Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena
Publisher Barn Made Games, Salt & Pepper Games
Designer Isaac Meyer

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

641owners
313wishlist
53want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

5 questions
Is the game hard to learn?
Not at all! The rules are very simple and the game flows quickly, making it great for casual gamers.
How long does a game last?
It's super fast, taking between 5 and 20 minutes, depending on the number of players.
Do I need any prior knowledge of psychology?
Not at all! The emotion theme is just the framing; what matters is logic and deduction.
Does it work well with only 2 players?
Yes, the game supports 2 to 5 people, though the deduction dynamic shifts based on how many hands you're analyzing.
Is there any language dependency?
No. The game is language-independent, so you can play with anyone regardless of the language they speak.

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