The science of cryptozoology concerns mythical beasts such as the yeti, the Loch Ness monster or the wendigo. Even “Cryptid” doesn’t allow us to come face to face with these legendary creatures but at least we get a little closer to their home turf. The search begins as a communal safari for up to five search parties, each of which have received one secret clue as to the location of the target monster. So, for example, one player knows for sure that the monster lives in either the desert OR the swamp. Another player might have received the hint that the monster can be found within three spaces of a standing stone. Through intelligent interrogation of your fellow players, you can try to draw out the key pieces of information from your opponents. Questions must be answered truthfully and new information is marked on the map for all to see. Incorrect guesses must be paid for by revealing some of your own information. So each round, with each new snippet of information, the net closes tighter and tighter on the one single field in which the monster must logically call home. Who is the most logical thinker and which hunter can find the monster before everyone else?

The art of “Cryptid” is to prise important information out of your opponents without giving away any of your own knowledge about the location of the mythical creature. It is incredibly satisfying to wade through the sea of possibilities, step by step, to finally work out the only place the monster could logically be hiding. What begins as a harmless group activity develops into a hard-fought headscratcher.