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Description
Renowned mediums are competing to figure out a secret object and prove they can connect with the "World Beyond". The first team to figure out the secret object wins!
To set up Phantom Ink, divide players so that the Sun team and the Moon team each have one Spirit and up to three Mediums. The mediums on a team share a hand of seven question cards, and the spirits begin the game by choosing one of the five objects on a card as the secret object. On a turn, the mediums pass two question cards to their spirit, with sample questions like "What color is it most commonly?", "What fictional character has it or uses it?", and "If it were a musical instrument, what would it be?"
The spirit discards one question card face up, then returns the question card it's going to answer to their mediums, then slowly writes the answer one letter at a time for all to see. As soon as the mediums think they know what this clue word is, they yell "Silencio", and the spirit stops writing. The other team of mediums might see only the letter "Y", but if you know the question is "What color is it?", then you know the clue must be "yellow". To end your turn, draw two new question cards.
On a turn, instead of handing over question cards, you can attempt to guess the answer — and to do so you write like the spirits, one letter at a time. If you write an incorrect letter, the spirits will stop you, marking out your error, with your partial guess giving the other team more information. If you guess the entire word correctly, you win!
Awards & Honors:
Game Makers Guild - Seal of Approval
The Dice Tower - Seal of Approval
Year Published
2022
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 9
This page: 9
Sentiment:
pos 9 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–9 of 9
Video cWtJGKYp70I
Actual top_10_list at 25:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 42662 · mention_pk 129598
Click to watch at 25:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- great for families and non-gamers
- engaging deduction without heavy complexity
Cons
- requires comfortable group dynamics
Thematic elements
- ghosts and mediums; word-guessing via clues
- teams work to communicate a secret word via clues
- collaborative, suspenseful
Comparison games
- Decrypto
- Codenames
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- letter-by-letter writing — answers revealed progressively to control information
- team-deduction with clue selection — clue giver, mediums, and ghost interact to reveal a secret word
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Skull is a classic.
- The tension when someone is flipping coasters one at a time is brilliant.
- No Thanks is a one-of-a-kind game that is perfect for playing in pubs.
- Sea Salt and Paper is a phenomenal game that completely stands on its own.
- Valbara is less brutal than Libertalia.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video tg8Y_QmtGZg
Unknown Channel recommendations at 0:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12131 · mention_pk 86361
Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong thematic aesthetics that align with Halloween and Ouija-board vibes
- Endlessly replayable due to the thematic hook and clue-interpretation dynamics
- Fresh twist on the classic hidden-word format with a social/party-game feel
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- hidden word guessing wrapped in a spectral, atmospheric theme
- seance-themed party night with a spooky, Ouija-board aesthetic
- thematic, atmospheric, playful ghost-hunting vibe
Comparison games
- Codenames
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Clue-giving by a team of mediums — One player acts as the spirit while the rest of the team (mediums) views two question cards, selects one, and forms a clue for the secret word.
- Early stopping and unfinished clues — If the mediums determine a clue is recognizable early, they can stop and leave an unfinished clue for the opposing team to deduce.
- Image Deciphering — One player acts as the spirit while the rest of the team (mediums) views two question cards, selects one, and forms a clue for the secret word.
- Letter-based clue writing on a shared pad — As the séance progresses, clues are written letter by letter on a shared pad, with the spirit silently guiding the process.
- Two-card choice and interpretation cycle — Each turn introduces two question cards; the spear picks one to answer, shaping the clue approach for the team.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Phantom Inc is like if codenames had a baby with a Ouija board
- it's a clever new take on a hidden word party game
- it's perfect for your upcoming Halloween festivities
- Phantom Inc has such a cool aesthetic it's super thematic and endlessly replayable
- your goal is to hold a seance and try to guess the secret word that only the spirits will know
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video otjEL8YtlwM
Foster the meele Channel top_10_list at 24:53 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10149 · mention_pk 29883
Click to watch at 24:53 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fits the tortured poets mood
- Rich narrative flavor
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- poetry / gothic vibe
- dark / moody atmosphere
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- multi-layered deduction / area control — players claim assets in a moody investigative setting
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Ticket to Ride is also many people's debut into board games
- you got to go fast
- you got to be swift
- Fearless is the Trailblazer album for Taylor
- Familiar Tales for me is giving me Speak Now vibes
- Bark Avenue because when you say speak a dog Burks
- the gates of Loyang … the box is red
- it's the era of Taylor Swift where she started to not really care and started to make fun of herself
- London boy
- Phantom Ink right because I don't know not only like the name of the game but the vibe
- the longest board game name I can think of
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video h283D56mh7c
Midas Suggested Game top_50_list at 17:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10043 · mention_pk 29579
Click to watch at 17:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Stunning art and theme
- Nice balance of prompts and team play
Cons
- Can be wordy in a busy group
- Might require a Halloween-leaning atmosphere to shine
Thematic elements
- Communication with spirits through clues
- Seance-inspired party game
- thematic, eerie
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Hidden word teamwork — Teams guide a spirit to a target word using prompts.
- Question-based prompts — Clue givers respond to questions with prompts from the spirit.
- Sequential clue-writing — Answers are written letter-by-letter on a clue board.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Sagrada is a really cool dice placement puzzle
- beautiful art and design of the game
- a really cool bounty hunting pick up and deliver game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fCqs4BwDSBA
Rolls in the Family top_10_list at 18:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9557 · mention_pk 86642
Click to watch at 18:41 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- clever decryption-like mechanic with team-versus-team tension
- strong potential in the right group
Cons
- the balance of information flow can be tricky
- may require careful group coaching to shine
Thematic elements
- mystery/mid-tier party-deduction with back-and-forth clues
- team-based clue-guessing with ghosts
- semi-cooperative with opposing teams
Comparison games
- Decrypto
- Crypto
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- letter-by-letter clue transmission — players can stop at any time, influencing how much information is shared
- team-based clue passing — teams exchange clues to guess answers, with dynamic turn-by-turn information control
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- They're leaving. They're gone. They're dead to us.
- I'm rating Walk and Roll a five out of 10.
- I rate it a six out of 10.
- Aon's End is a great game and there are a lot of people I think that would really enjoy it.
- Gloomhaven will always stand as one that I have such fond memories of.
- Star Wars Imperial Assault... a nine out of 10.
- World Wonders is a is a really solid game. Planet Unknown ended up replacing World Wonders for me.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8R3enOPtEKU
Beyond Solitaire interview at 3:54 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8681 · mention_pk 103792
Click to watch at 3:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fun party game with unique theme
- Strong social interaction
Cons
- Not for everyone; depends on player dynamics
Thematic elements
- paranormal-themed social party game
- spiritualists and mediums
- lighthearted social deduction
Comparison games
- Surrealist Dinner Party
- Buffalo
- Pox
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- social deduction — players deduce who is a phantom/medium; relies on social interaction
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Play has to be free.
- designers solve problems; artists cause problems.
- Games carry meaning in them whether the designer intends that meaning or not.
- Chess has a social hierarchy built into it.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video GicAm7HHuzI
Might I Suggest a Game top_10_list at 16:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3497 · mention_pk 111740
Click to watch at 16:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- spooky theme
- great for large groups
- strong inside jokes
Cons
- might not appeal to players who dislike spooky themes
Thematic elements
- spooky seance
- Ouija board vibe
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- group social interaction — spooky theme with seance-like mechanics for multiple players
- neighbor interaction — spooky theme with seance-like mechanics for multiple players
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's better than code names. I I I have said that and I will stand by that on this channel.
- Wow, that was fast. I really appreciated how quick it was.
- Castles of Burgundy is just a solid game all the way through.
- So Clover is the quintessential inside jokemaker.
- In the Palm of Your Hand feels so different. I just really love the novelty of it.
- Phantom Inc., with its spooky vibe and Ouija-board feel, has been a big hit in our group.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Ix6I3OEU490
Unknown Channel general_discussion at 16:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2217 · mention_pk 6448
Click to watch at 16:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- easy to teach
- great for large groups
Cons
- word clue quality can vary
- requires enough players for two teams
Thematic elements
- Mediums and clues
- Two-team party word-guessing game
- Light, humorous
Comparison games
- Codenames
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- team_based_word_guessing — Two teams compete to guess a target word from clues
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Make this world a better place, one board gamer at a time.
- it's a big hit for our group
- it's all about money
- this is deluxe and exciting
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video JQWcG5k5824
My Suggested Game top_10_list at 13:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 746 · mention_pk 2178
Click to watch at 13:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Thematic and engaging for late-night sessions
- Strong social and interpretive play
Cons
- Complex rules can be dense for some groups
Thematic elements
- Ghost communications; one-letter responses
- Seance-themed party game
- Thematic and social
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- letter-limited communication — Ghost provides one-letter responses that players interpret to solve puzzles.
- limited communication — Ghost provides one-letter responses that players interpret to solve puzzles.
- party_social — Rules lean into social interaction and interpretation.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this year is flying by
- The Crew is just a perfect nice and easy cooperative game
- i've been really enjoying six nymph
- Phantom Ink is a really great game and would highly recommend it
- Mind Management is a masterpiece
- So Clover by Repost Production is climbing the rankings
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–9 of 9