Invisible Ink (2017) Board Game

Invisible Ink is a party game released in 2017 and designed by Martin Nedergaard Andersen. The game is suitable for 3-6 players, with a runtime of 20-30 minutes and an age recommendation of 10 and above. The game features art by Cranio Creations, Egmont Polska, and HUCH! and falls under the category of party games.

Game Components of Invisible Ink

Codeword cards: 200 double-sided cards with secret messages.

Yellow highlighter: Disguised as a bottle of nail polish, used for drawing secret messages.

Red film glasses: Used to block the visibility of the yellow highlighter marks.

Die: Rolled to determine who wears the red film glasses.

Paper: For drawing the secret messages.

Sand timer: To add a time limit to each round.

BLUE and BLACK game decks: Each with its own set of rules and challenges.

How To Setup Invisible Ink

To set up Invisible Ink, each player starts by understanding the basic rules. The game includes two main types of games: the BLUE game and the BLACK game, each with its own deck of codeword cards. Players decide which game to play and then draw the codeword cards. The die is rolled at the start of each round to determine who will wear the red film glasses, which can include the message bearer, the receivers, or everyone. The victory point pool is set with 10 points per player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Drawing Mechanism: The message bearer uses a yellow highlighter to draw a secret message on a piece of paper.

Visibility Restriction: Players wearing red film glasses cannot see the yellow highlighter marks.

Guessing: Other players must guess the secret message before the sand timer runs out.

Scoring: Points are awarded for correct guesses, with penalties for incorrect ones in the BLACK game.

BLUE Game: Focuses on direct guessing without penalties.

BLACK Game: Involves paired words where players must guess the primary word without saying the associated word.

Player Experience

Invisible Ink is designed to be a fun and interactive party game. The use of red film glasses creates a hilarious and challenging environment where players often find themselves laughing at the misinterpretations and surprises. The game is quick, lasting only 20-30 minutes, which is typically enough to keep players engaged without overstaying its welcome. The two different game modes (BLUE and BLACK) offer varied challenges, making the game more dynamic.

Pros

Interactive and Fun: Encourages teamwork and quick thinking.

Unique Mechanism: The use of red film glasses adds a novel twist to the guessing game.

Variety: Two game modes provide different experiences.

Quick Gameplay: Suitable for short game sessions.

Cons

Confusing Rules: The BLACK game’s rules can be complex, especially with penalty points.

Language Issues: Some codeword cards may have translations that are not clear.

Limited Replayability: The game’s appeal may diminish after several plays.

Personal Thoughts on Invisible Ink

Invisible Ink is perfect for those looking for a light-hearted, entertaining party game. It is ideal for family gatherings or casual game nights with friends. While it may not be the best fit for serious gamers due to its simplicity and limited replayability, it delivers a fun and laughter-filled experience for its duration. The unique mechanism of the red film glasses ensures that every game is full of surprises and enjoyable moments.

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