Mysterium rules: how to play and how to win

Mysterium quick rules

The goal

Mysterium is a cooperative game. One player is the ghost of the manor, the others are psychics. Each psychic must find their Trail, a Character, a Location and an Object, within seven rounds; then, all together, you try to find the real culprit.

The ghost never speaks

The ghost knows each psychic’s Trail, hidden behind the game screen, but never speaks. They only communicate with Vision cards, strange images, and make no gestures or comments.

The ghost’s turn

The ghost gives each psychic, in their envelope, one to seven Vision cards suggesting the card to find: a mood, an object, a color, a shape. They refill their hand to seven cards after each Vision.

Candle markers

When their cards don’t fit, the ghost discards a Candle marker to swap up to seven cards from their hand. They only have three for the whole game.

The psychics’ turn

The psychics discuss their Visions freely, and each places their Intuition pawn on the card they think is theirs: Character, then Location, then Object. Two psychics never have the same card.

The resolution phase

Each psychic asks the ghost whether they found it: one knock under the table for yes, two for no. If right, they move to the next board; if not, their Vision goes back to the ghost, who will add to it next round.

The next round

If all the psychics have their Trail, it’s time for the revealing of the mystery. Otherwise, the Pocket Watch moves up one hour; if it was already on seven, the game is lost.

The revealing of the mystery

All the Trails are laid out. The ghost secretly draws the culprit’s color and gives a final Vision of three cards, one per element. The psychics choose a single Trail, by majority if needed: the right one, and the whole table wins.

Beginner traps

The ghost stays expressionless. If two pawns are on the same card, one of them is wrong. Other psychics’ Visions often help with your own, and the ghost saves Candles for the end.

With Secrets & Lies

The expansion adds Vision cards, new sets and above all Story cards, which can replace the Object cards, with the Story Progress board.

How to win Mysterium

No points

Mysterium has no points: the whole table wins or loses together.

Victory

At the revealing of the mystery, the psychics together choose the culprit’s Trail drawn by the ghost.

Defeat

The Pocket Watch was already on seven and some psychics hadn’t finished their Trail, or the Trail chosen at the revealing is the wrong one.

End of the game

Optional, for the record: the Ludingo sheet records how the game ended.

Example ending

With 5 players, Jake is the ghost. At the end of the sixth round, all four psychics have their Trail: time for the revealing. Jake draws Alex’s color and gives three cards; the psychics choose Leo’s Trail by 3 votes to 1. It’s the wrong one: the whole table loses.

Common mistakes

• Thinking it’s enough for each psychic to find their Trail: you still have to succeed at the revealing of the mystery.
• Starting a new Vision for a psychic who guessed wrong: the ghost adds to the previous one.
• Forgetting the Pocket Watch moves after every unfinished round: after seven hours, you lose.
• Letting the ghost nod or sigh: no clues outside the Vision cards.

How to set up Mysterium

Setup takes about 10 minutes. With 3 players, each psychic plays two colors; expansions add their Vision cards and sets.