Mysterium Park
Mysterium Park Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Overview
Mysterium Park is a cooperative game: all players win or lose together. They share a common objective: discovering the circumstances of the ghost's death. Before starting the game, players should first select their role: either the Ghost or a Psychic. Depending on their role, they will play differently.
- The Ghost (one player) must guide the Psychics throughout their investigation. They give clues in the form of illustrated cards called Vision Cards. It is their only way of communicating with the Psychics, putting them on the right track. For a better experience, a player already familiar with the game, or at least with this type of game, should play as the Ghost for your first game.
- The Psychics (all other players) must each clear a suspect and eliminate a location; this is their personal mission. They help each other to interpret the Vision Cards given by the Ghost.
Game Components
For the Ghost
- 84 Vision Cards
- 60 Plot Cards
- 1 Card Holder for the Plot Cards
- 3 Ticket Tokens
For the Psychics
- 1 Board
- 1 Game Turn Marker
- 20 Character Cards
- 20 Location Cards
- 5 Innocent Tokens (1 in each color)
- 5 Intuition Pawns (1 in each color)
- 1 Witness Token
Setting Up the Game
The Ghost and the Psychics sit across the table from each other.
The Ghost draws 1 Plot Card and places it on their card holder. This is their Plot Card for Round #1. Then, the Ghost draws two extra Plot Cards and places them face down next to them: they will be used for Round #2 and #3. Only the Ghost, and no one else, is allowed to see the Plot Cards during the game. Put the other Plot Cards back in the box: they won't be used in this game.
The Ghost takes the 3 Ticket Tokens. Then, they shuffle all Vision Cards face down to form a draw pile, from which they draw their first 7 Vision Cards of the game.
The Psychics unfold the board and place it in the middle of the table. Place the Game Turn Marker next to space #1.
Each player chooses a color and takes the matching Intuition Pawn and Innocent Token. Any remaining tokens are placed back in the box. The Witness token is placed next to the board.
Players then prepare Round #1. To do so, shuffle all Character Cards and draw 9 cards at random. Place them face up at random on the different spaces of the board. The remaining Character Cards are placed back in the box.
Keep the 20 Location Cards within easy reach of all players. They will be used only in Round #2.
Playing the Game
Goal of the Game
To win a game of Mysterium Park, the Psychics must find who committed the crime (character) and where (location) during Round #3.
The Psychics must narrow down the list of suspects (Round #1) then the list of locations (Round #2). If they manage to do so within 6 game turns, they can play Round #3. Otherwise, everybody loses the game.
The Ghost does not play like the Psychics, but they pursue the same objective: if the Psychics win, the Ghost wins with them, otherwise everybody loses.
Round #1 – Clear a Character
Each round of Mysterium Park plays in successive turns. Players have a total of 6 turns to complete Round #1 and #2.
Round #1 focuses on characters. Each Psychic must find the Character Card that is linked to their color on the Plot Card.
The Plot Cards
Only the Ghost, and no one else, can see the Plot Cards throughout the game. The Ghost uses 1 Plot Card each round.
The Plot Card always matches the grid of Character or Location Cards on the board. The Plot Card must be placed horizontally (two possibilities).
Each Plot Card indicates the nature of each space to the Ghost, as well as the nature of the matching Character or Location Card on the table:
- Innocent Spaces: there are 5 Innocent Spaces on each Plot Card, one for each Psychic color (blue, yellow, red, purple, and white). These colored spaces indicate the card (character or location) that each Psychic has to guess, depending on their color. Ignore all colors that are not played.
- Witness Space: there is only 1 Witness Space on each Plot Card, with specific rules. See the Spectral Manifestation section for more information.
- Empty Spaces: there are 3 empty spaces on each Plot Card. They do not display any color or icon and are not linked to any Psychic.
During Round #3, the Ghost only considers the Roman numerals from their Plot Card (I, II or III). The spaces are not to be used on that round.
Example: In a 4-player game, the Psychics are white, purple and yellow. The Ghost will have each Psychic guess the card of their color: here, the cards marked with a white, purple and yellow circle. This numeral should only be considered during Round #3. The numeral is always the same, regardless of the way the card is placed.
The Game Turn
Step 1. Interpreting Visions
The Ghost chooses one of the Psychics and looks at the Plot Card to check which Character Card was attributed to this Psychic (the one the Psychic has to guess during this round).
The Ghost then creates a vision so that the Psychic finds the correct Character Card among the cards of the table. To create a vision, the Ghost may use one or several Vision Cards from their hand.
Once the Ghost has created their vision, they give the chosen Vision Card(s) to that Psychic face up, so that everyone can see them.
Then, the Ghost immediately draws new Vision Cards until they have 7 cards in hand. If the draw pile runs out, shuffle the discarded Vision Cards to create a new pile.
Discarding Vision Cards: Creating a vision might be difficult and, if you play the wrong cards, you risk confusing the Psychics rather than helping them. As the Ghost, you may discard one of your Ticket Tokens to replace the cards from your hand with new cards. Discard up to 7 cards and draw as many cards to replace them. You can discard cards at any time; however, keep in mind that you only have 3 Ticket Tokens. If you run out of Ticket Tokens, then you can no longer discard your Vision Cards to replace them.
Once the Ghost has drawn their new cards, they choose another Psychic and repeat this process, until all Psychics have received their Vision Cards for this turn.
Important: As the Ghost, you may listen to the Psychics, but you may not comment on their choices, nor gesture, nor try to communicate to give them hints.
As soon a Psychic receives their Vision Cards, they can look at them and show them to the other Psychics. Together, they can try to interpret the cards to deduce which Character Card they are supposed to identify. Psychics can talk to each other without restriction.
When a Psychic thinks they have identified the correct Character Card, they place their Intuition Pawn on that card. Even though you are free to discuss with the other Psychics, where you place your pawn is your own decision. You may listen to your teammates, but you may also ignore them if you think they are wrong.
All Psychics try to resolve the vision that they received by placing their Intuition Pawn on the correct card. Psychics may change their mind and move their Intuition Pawn as they want; once they all confirm their choice, they should let the Ghost know, and move to the next step.
Note: Several Psychics may place their Intuition Pawn on the same card. However, this means that at least one of them is wrong, because each Psychic was assigned a different card.
Example: The Ghost needs Maximilien to guess the Hypnotist Character. That Character features three main concepts: eye, sight and perception. The Ghost chooses 3 Vision Cards from their hand matching these concepts and gives them to Maximilien. When Maximilien receives his Vision Cards, he shares them with Alexandra and Mélanie. Upon seeing the Vision Cards, both think that the correct card is the Hypnotist. Maximilien, however, is not so sure and decides to place his Intuition Pawn on the Make-Up Artist because of the colored faces.
Step 2. Spectral Manifestation
During this step, the Ghost lets the Psychics know whether or not they correctly interpreted their visions. The Ghost checks each Psychic's Intuition Pawn and compares them with the matching space on their Plot Card.
If one (or several) Psychics placed their Intuition Pawn on the Character Card that matches the Witness Space, then the Ghost must immediately resolve this space first, as explained below.
The Ghost must tell the Psychics that the Witness has been found, showing the matching Character. The Character Card is immediately discarded, Psychics place the Witness Token on the empty space. Then, proceed as follows:
- The Psychics that placed their Intuition Pawn on the Witness must move that pawn to any other Character Card.
- When it is done, the other Psychics may also move their Intuition Pawn to any other Character Card if they want to (if they doubt their initial choice because their fellow Psychics had to move their pawn to another Character, for instance).
Once all Psychics' Intuition Pawns have been placed, the Ghost may proceed to the next step.
If there is no Intuition Pawn on the Witness Space, you may skip the Witness step above and directly resolve the following step.
The Ghost chooses a Psychic and lets them know whether or not they find the correct card, comparing the space that they chose with the matching space on the Plot Card. If both match, then the Psychic has chosen the correct card; otherwise, they are wrong.
If, as a Psychic, you chose the correct card:
- Recover your Intuition Pawn, place it in front of you and discard your Character Card. Then, place your Innocent Token on the space previously occupied by this Character Card to mark that you successfully cleared your Character for this round.
- Discard your Vision Cards.
If, as a Psychic, you chose any other card:
- Recover your Intuition Pawn and place it in front of you.
- Keep your Vision Cards. The Ghost will be able to give you extra Vision Cards on the next turn to complete your vision.
Then, the Ghost chooses another Psychic and lets them know whether or not they found the correct card, and so on until all Psychics have been resolved.
When the turn ends,
- If one or several Psychics did not find their card, a new turn begins in Round #1. Move the Game Turn Marker one space forward.
- If all Psychics have found their cards, move to Round #2 and start a new turn. Move the Game Turn Marker one space forward. Each Psychic recovers their Intuition Pawn and their Innocent Token. The Ghost recovers the three Characters that match the empty spaces on their Plot Card and sets them aside. All other Character Cards are discarded.
In both cases, if the turn marker was already on the sixth space when you should move it forward, the game is over and everybody loses.
Example: The Psychics tell the Ghost that they're ready. The Ghost may now let them know whether or not they're correct. Maximilien placed his Intuition Pawn on the Witness Space; the Ghost must start with him before resolving any other pawn. Since Maximilien accidentally chose the Witness, he must immediately choose another Character Card. Remembering what the others said, he moves his pawn to the Hypnotist, even though Mélanie's pawn is already on it. Seeing that, Mélanie decides to move her pawn to the Fortune Teller. Alexandra could move her pawn as well, but she decides not to do so.
The Ghost now reveals if the Psychics' choices are correct. Maximilien and Alexandra chose the correct card; they both recover their Intuition Pawn, discard their Character Card, and place their Innocent Token on the empty space that the Character left on the board. After that, they discard their Vision Cards.
Mélanie, on the other hand, did not choose the correct card. She recovers her Intuition Pawn, and a new turn starts in Round #1. The Ghost sends a new vision to Mélanie, which she will try to interpret with the help of Maximilien and Alexandra.
Round #2 – Eliminate a Location
Before starting Round #2, prepare a new setup. It is the same as the setup for Round #1, except that you shuffle and place 9 Location Cards instead of 9 Character Cards. The Ghost discards their previous Plot Card and draws a new Plot Card for this round. Then, you may start Round #2.
Round #2 plays exactly as Round #1 and is divided into several game turns, except that the Psychics try to eliminate a Location Card, instead of clearing a Character.
If, by the end of the six turns of the game, all Psychics managed to find their Location Card, then proceed to Round #3. Each Psychic recovers their Intuition Pawn and their Innocent Token. The Ghost recovers the three Locations that match the empty spaces on their Plot Card and sets them aside. All other Location Cards are discarded.
If the Psychics did not succeed in finding their Location Cards by the end of the sixth turn, the game is over and everybody loses.
Round #3 – Reveal the Culprit and Crime Scene
Thanks to their previous deductions, the Psychics have narrowed down the list of characters and locations to 3 of each. The Ghost may now expose the true culprit and crime scene. The Psychics have only one chance to identify them correctly.
There is a specific setup for this round. First, the Ghost shuffles the three remaining Character Cards from Round #1 and places them at random on the second line of the Board. Then, they shuffle the three remaining Location Cards from Round #2 and place them at random on the third line of the Board.
There are now three sets of two cards each (one Character and one Location) on the Board, one per column. Each set is identified by the Roman numeral at the top of its column (I, II or III).
The Ghost now discards their previous Plot Card and draws the last one, placing that card on the provided card holder. For this round, the Ghost only considers the Roman numeral displayed on this card. That number indicates the set of cards (Character and Location) that the Psychics have to find in order to win the game.
This set of cards is the correct set. If the Psychics find it, everybody wins.
The Ghost must now create the final vision of the game. To do that, they must choose exactly two Vision Cards from their hand. One must be linked to the Character of the correct set, and the other to the Location of the same set. Once the Ghost has prepared their vision, they shuffle the Vision Cards before handing them out to the Psychics.
Note: At any time, including during Round #3, the Ghost may use their Ticket Tokens (if any remain) to discard and redraw some or all of their Vision Cards.
Once they have received the vision, the Psychics may freely discuss it. Their goal is to identify the set of cards matching the vision. They have to agree before making their final decision. If they don't agree, discuss again until you resolve the tie.
When the Psychics are ready, they tell the Ghost which set they have chosen. The Ghost then reveals if they were right or not:
- If the Psychics chose the set that matches the Roman numeral of the Plot Card, then all players win the game! The Ghost's soul may now rest in peace.
- Otherwise, all players lose… The tortured soul of the Ghost still haunts the Psychics' minds… until the next game!
2- or 3-Player Variant
For 2- or 3-player game, you may use the same rules. However, if you want a more complex game, each Psychic player may play two Psychics instead of one. The rest of the rules remain unchanged.