Last Updated on February 26, 2026 by The Official Game Rules Team

Dixit is a creative storytelling card game where imagination matters more than logic. Using beautifully illustrated image cards, players take turns giving clues (spoken phrases, sounds, or even songs), that hint at one of their cards. The rest of the table responds with images of their own, trying to blend in just enough to confuse others while still earning points.

Dixit works equally well with families, casual players, and creative game nights. Every round tells a miniature story, making Dixit as much a shared experience as it is a competitive game.

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How to Play Dixit: In-Depth Guide

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Components

Inside the box, you’ll find:

• 1 game board with a scoring track
• 84 illustrated image cards
• 36 voting tokens in six different colors, numbered 1 to 6
• 6 wooden rabbit pawns (often called rabbeeples)

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Setup

1. Each player chooses a wooden rabbit and places it on space 0 of the scoring track.
2. Shuffle all 84 image cards.
3. Deal 6 cards face down to each player. Keep your hand secret at all times.
4. Place the remaining cards face down to form a draw pile.

Voting Tokens by Player Count

• 4 players: each player takes voting tokens numbered 1–4
• 5 players: each player takes voting tokens numbered 1–5
• 6 players: each player takes voting tokens numbered 1–6

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Objective of the Game

Score the most points by successfully giving and interpreting clues. Players earn points by guessing the storyteller’s card correctly or by convincing others to vote for their own misleading cards.

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Gameplay Overview

The game is played in turns. Each turn consists of:

1. Choosing a storyteller
2. Giving a clue
3. Selecting matching cards
4. Voting
5. Scoring
6. Drawing back up to six cards

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The Storyteller Phase

One player acts as the storyteller for the turn.

The storyteller:

• Looks at the six image cards in their hand
• Chooses one card
• Creates a sentence, phrase, sound, or reference inspired by that image

The clue can be:

• One word or multiple words
• A quote, proverb, or movie title
• A sound, short melody, or abstract idea

The storyteller says the clue aloud but does not reveal the chosen card.

For the very first turn of the game, the first player who volunteers a clue becomes the initial storyteller.

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Choosing Cards

All other players:

• Review the six cards in their hand
• Choose the one image that best matches the storyteller’s clue
• Hand their selected card face down to the storyteller

The storyteller:

• Collects all submitted cards plus their own
• Shuffles them together
• Places them face up in a row in the center of the table

Cards are numbered from left to right, starting with 1.

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Voting Phase

The non-storyteller players now attempt to identify which card belongs to the storyteller.

Each player:

• Secretly selects a voting token matching the number of the card they believe is the storyteller’s
• Places the token face down in front of themselves

Important rules:

• The storyteller does not vote
• You may not vote for your own card

Once everyone has voted, all voting tokens are revealed and placed on the corresponding cards.

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Scoring

Points are awarded based on how well the clue was balanced.

If everyone or no one finds the storyteller’s card:

• The storyteller scores 0 points
• All other players score 2 points

If some—but not all—players find the storyteller’s card:

• The storyteller scores 3 points
• Each player who guessed correctly scores 3 points

Bonus Points

• Every non-storyteller player scores 1 point for each vote placed on their own card

Players move their rabbit forward on the scoring track based on the total points earned that turn.

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End of Turn

At the end of the turn:

• Each player draws one card to return their hand to six cards
• The storyteller role passes to the player on the left
• Play continues clockwise

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End of the Game

The game ends when the final card from the draw pile has been taken. All players finish the current turn, then compare scores.

The player whose rabbit is farthest along the scoring track is the winner.

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Strategy Tips for Dixit

• As the storyteller, aim for clues that are neither too obvious nor too obscure
• If everyone guesses your card, you earn nothing
• If no one guesses your card, you still earn nothing
• Pay attention to other players’ thinking styles and reference points
• As a non-storyteller, choose cards that feel plausible but not too perfect
• Earning bonus votes on your card can be just as valuable as guessing correctly

Over time, learning how each player interprets images becomes a key part of winning.

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Game Variations

3-Player Variant

• Each player starts with 7 cards instead of 6
• Each non-storyteller submits two cards instead of one
• Five cards total are displayed each round

Scoring change:

• If only one player finds the storyteller’s card, both that player and the storyteller score 4 points instead of 3

Mimes or Music Variant

Instead of speaking, the storyteller may:

• Mime an idea related to the image
• Sing or hum a short tune

All other rules remain the same.

Custom Variants

Players are encouraged to mix variants or invent house rules to suit their group’s creativity and comfort level.

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FAQ

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Conclusion

Dixit is a celebration of imagination, interpretation, and shared storytelling. With simple rules, expressive artwork, and endless creative possibilities, every game feels different from the last. Whether you’re crafting the perfect clue or trying to outthink your friends’ logic, Dixit rewards creativity more than convention.

If you enjoy Dixit, you may also like other creative party and storytelling games such as Mysterium, Balderdash, or Apples to Apples—all of which encourage players to think beyond the obvious and enjoy the art of interpretation.