Witness

Ystari Games · Board game · 2014
7.3 Ludopedia 7.2 BGG 4 · best 4 15 min Weight 1.5/5
Buy · from US$ 35.11
7.3 rating Ludopedia
7.2 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

If you enjoy a group communication and memory challenge, Witness is a sure bet! It's fast, unique, and guarantees good laughs with the attempts to pass information.

Highlights
  • Unique communication challenge
  • Fast and to the point
  • Highly replayable with 64 cases
  • Tense cooperative experience
Keep in mind
  • Only works with 4 players
  • Communication can be frustrating
  • Reading dependent
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Get ready for a deduction and communication challenge in Witness! Inspired by the classic Belgian comic book universe of Blake and Mortimer, this game is strictly for four trainee detectives. Each of you takes on the role of a character with exclusive information, and the goal is to unravel 64 intriguing mysteries. The catch? You can't just blurt out what you know! Communication rules are super restricted, forcing you to whisper, exchange clues indirectly, and rely on memory to piece together the puzzle. Each case begins with an introduction, either text or image, setting the scene. Then, each player consults their personal booklet to access data only they possess. The dynamic of who talks to whom and what is shared is decided randomly, creating organized chaos worthy of a spy movie. After a few rounds of limited and, let's face it, somewhat inefficient information exchange, the group reads the case's conclusion. To finish with a flourish (or not!), each player individually answers three questions. The final score, ranging from 0 to 12 points, reflects how well you worked as a team... or how lost you got! It's a quick, tense, and hilarious experience, perfect for those who enjoy a group brain-teaser without getting bogged down in complex rules.

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

3 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

4 players
4 BEST

Soundtrack

Ambience suggested by Melodice

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Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Series: Ystari originals
Publisher Ystari Games
Designer Dominique Bodin
Artist Arnaud Demaegd, Cyril Demaegd, Dominique Bodin, Edgar P. Jacobs, Neriac

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

4,196owners
2,069wishlist
460want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
How many players can play Witness?
Witness is strictly a 4-player game. It does not work with fewer or more people.
How long does a game take?
Each case is quite fast, usually around 15 minutes. Perfect for fitting into any schedule!
Is the game difficult to learn?
The basic rules are quite simple; the challenge lies in communication and deduction. The complexity is low, ideal for those who want something different without complications.
Do you need to read a lot to play?
Yes, the game involves reading to understand the cases and each character's information. It's important that all players can read.
How many cases are included?
There are 64 different cases to unravel, ensuring plenty of replayability and varied challenges.
Who would enjoy this game?
It's great for those who enjoy cooperative games, memory and deduction challenges, and don't mind creative communication limitations. It's also cool for comic book fans!

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