Dixit Complete Guide: Creative Storytelling Board Game
Learn how to play Dixit — the award-winning creative storytelling board game with surreal artwork. Master clue giving, balanced ambiguity, and psychological strategy to score with imaginative card play.
Dixit Complete Guide: Creative Storytelling Board Game
Dixit is an award-winning creative storytelling board game where players use surreal dreamlike artwork on large cards to give and guess clues. The active player describes one of their cards with a word, phrase, sound, or gesture — but the clue must be ambiguous enough that not everyone guesses correctly. Designed by Jean-Louis Roubira, it won the Spiel des Jahres in 2010.
Game Components
What's in the Box
- 84 large illustrated cards with unique surrealist artwork
- 1 game board with scoring track (0-30)
- 6 wooden rabbit scoring markers (one per player)
- 36 voting tokens (numbered 1-6 for player matching)
- Designed for 3-6 players (best with 4-6)
- Typical game duration 30 minutes
How to Play
Setup
- Each player receives 6 cards in their hand.
- Place all rabbit markers on the 0 space of the scoring track.
- Each player receives voting tokens matching the number of players.
- The first storyteller is chosen randomly.
Taking a Turn
Step 1: The Storyteller Gives a Clue
The storyteller (active player) secretly chooses one card from their hand and gives a clue about it. The clue can be:
- A word or phrase
- A sentence or short story
- A sound, song, or gesture
- Anything that relates to the image without being too obvious or too vague
Step 2: Everyone Else Chooses a Card
All other players secretly choose one card from their own hand that best matches the storyteller's clue. All chosen cards (including the storyteller's) are shuffled and placed face-up in the center, numbered.
Step 3: Voting
Each player (except the storyteller) secretly votes for which card they believe is the storyteller's original card, using their numbered voting token.
- You cannot vote for your own card.
- The storyteller does not vote.
Step 4: Scoring
Reveal all votes and the storyteller's card:
| Outcome | Scoring |
|---|---|
| All players guess correctly | Everyone except storyteller scores 2 points (storyteller gets 0) |
| No players guess correctly | Everyone except storyteller scores 2 points (storyteller gets 0) |
| Some but not all guess correctly | Storyteller scores 3 + each correct guesser scores 3 |
| Bonus: Other players' cards that receive votes | 1 point per vote received |
The key balance: your clue must be understood by some but not all players.
Game End
When the card deck runs out, each player plays one final card from their hand. The player with the most points on the scoring track wins.
Strategy Tips
1. The Art of Ambiguity
- The perfect clue is understood by 2-3 out of 5 players — scoring maximum points.
- Too obvious: everyone guesses → you score 0.
- Too vague: nobody guesses → you score 0.
- Aim for clues that resonate with some players but not all.
2. Personal References
- References to shared experiences (movies, songs, inside jokes) work well.
- A clue like "our vacation" means something different to each player.
- Personal clues are harder for new players — use more universal references in mixed groups.
3. Misdirection as a Guesser
- When choosing a card to match the clue, pick one that could fool other players.
- If your card gets votes, you earn bonus points (1 per vote).
- The best defensive play is choosing a card that is a plausible match but not the original.
4. Reading the Storyteller
- Pay attention to the storyteller's personality and thinking style.
- Some players give literal clues ("a cat sitting on a roof"); others give abstract clues ("loneliness").
- Adapt your guessing style to match each storyteller.
5. Emotional and Cultural Clues
- Emotions ("nostalgia", "surprise") work well because the surreal art evokes feelings.
- Cultural references (fairy tales, mythology) are universally understood.
- Avoid overly specific knowledge references that exclude some players.
Game Variations
Dixit: Odyssey
- Standalone expansion with 84 new cards
- Supports up to 12 players with team voting
- Includes variant rules for cooperative and bluffing modes
- Can be combined with the base game (168 cards total)
Dixit: Memories
- 84 new cards with art by Carine Hinder and Jérôme Pélissier
- Warmer, more nostalgic art style
- Fully compatible with all other Dixit sets
Dixit: Harmonies
- 84 new cards with art by Paul Echegoyen
- Musical and harmonic theme throughout
- Fully compatible with all other Dixit sets
Dixit: Quest
- 84 new cards with adventure-themed artwork
- Can be played standalone or combined
- Adds variety for experienced players
Game History
Origins
- Designed by Jean-Louis Roubira and published by Libellud in 2008
- Roubira is a child psychologist who designed the game to explore communication and imagination
- The artwork was created by Marie Cardouat, whose surrealist style became the game's signature
Awards and Recognition
- Won the Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) in 2010
- Won the As d'Or (Golden Ace) at the Cannes International Games Festival
- Over 3 million copies sold worldwide
- Translated into 20+ languages
- Named one of the best party games of all time
Statistics
- Designed for 3-6 players (best with 4-6), up to 12 with Odyssey
- 84 large illustrated cards in the base game
- 6 wooden rabbit markers
- 36 voting tokens
- 6 cards per player at start
- Perfect clue: some but not all guess correctly
- Scoring: 3 points for correct storyteller + guesser, 1 point per vote received
- Maximum score 30 points on track
- Over 3 million copies sold
- Won Spiel des Jahres 2010
- Typical game duration 30 minutes
- Suitable for ages 8 and up
- Designed by Jean-Louis Roubira (child psychologist)
- Art by Marie Cardouat
- Published by Libellud
- 4+ expansions with 84 cards each
Explore more creative games in our complete card game directory.