Gooseberry

About this board game

Gooseberry is a short social-deduction game for 4–6 players that plays in about 10 minutes. Inspired by Fake Artist, Spyfall, and Codenames, it challenges players to communicate carefully while hiding their true role.

Each game begins with a topic containing sixteen visible subjects. One subject becomes the secret, while one player is secretly assigned the role of the Gooseberry. The other players know the secret subject, but the Gooseberry does not know either the subject or the identities of the other players.

Players receive code cards, with one player receiving a Gooseberry card containing no code. Using their code, the other players identify the correct subject word and prepare a one-word clue related to it. The best clue demonstrates that its speaker knows the secret without making the answer too obvious to the Gooseberry.

1. Choose a topic with sixteen different subjects.
2. Deal the code cards and secretly determine the Gooseberry.
3. Prepare and announce one-word clues clockwise, without hesitation.
4. Discuss the clues, question one another, and vote on the suspected Gooseberry.

The Gooseberry is trying to remain hidden while working out the secret subject. Everyone else must protect the answer and identify the hidden player. The Gooseberry wins if the group fails to identify them correctly, or if they can guess the correct subject word.

Released in 2016, Gooseberry offers a compact blend of deduction, bluffing, and social reading. The cards use no language, and although the rules are currently available only in English, the game’s low complexity makes it easy to play in any language.