Academia

About this board game

Academia is a bluffing game about unusual words and their meanings, designed for 2–6 players with an approximately 60-minute play time.

In each round, one player becomes the leader. The leader takes a card from the pile, chooses one of the unusual words shown on it, and reads that word aloud to the other players. The card also provides the correct meaning, but the other players do not see it during the writing stage.

Each player secretly writes a definition for the word on a piece of paper. If a player knows the real meaning, they may write it down. Alternatively, they can invent a misleading definition designed to trick the other players into believing it is correct.

1. The leader selects and reads an unusual word.
2. All other players secretly write a definition.
3. The leader reads every submitted definition, along with the correct meaning from the card.
4. Players vote for the definition they believe is correct, and the votes are scored.

This combination of hidden information, creative writing, and judgment makes every definition part of the bluff. Players must decide whether an unfamiliar-sounding answer is genuine or an especially convincing attempt to mislead the table.

After the votes are counted and scored, the round ends and the game continues with another leader. Released in 1989, Academia focuses on the meaning of unusual words while giving players room to bluff, guess, and evaluate the definitions presented.