If you’re looking for a fun party game to play with your friends, you can never go wrong with Dixit. With its creative artwork and exciting storytelling power, Dixit is one of the most engaging adventure games out in the market, today.
Whether you’re a beginner or someone who’s been playing Dixit for a while, you can add more variety and action to your game by buying an expansion pack for your basic set.
Best Dixit Expansions on the Market
Now, there are nearly a dozen Dixit expansion packs out there, so it can be tough to choose which one to get. This comparison chart will help you make the best decision for which Dixit expansion pack to pick.
Image | Produit | |
---|---|---|
Best for Family
| Dixit Memories
| Vérifier le prix |
Best Budget
| Dixit Quest
| Vérifier le prix |
Meilleur choix
| Dixit Odyssey
| Vérifier le prix |
Best for Older-age groups
| Dixit Harmonies
| Vérifier le prix |
Best for Friends
| Dixit Journey
| Vérifier le prix |
Base Game: What is Dixit?
Caractéristiques du jeu
The box contains a beautifully colored platform that acts as a scoreboard, numbered from 1-30. Inside, you will find a bag with six wooden bunnies in 6 different colors. You’ll also find six stacks of tokens that match the colors of the bunnies. These tokens are all numbered from 1 to 6.
The bunnies mark the player’s scores on the scoreboard, while the tokens are used for the game’s voting process.
The base game features a total of 84 cards that each have a unique and abstract image of the wildest things you could ever imagine. The object of the game is to be the first player to reach 30 points.
To prepare the game, you first have to set out the board. Have each player choose a bunny and collect their corresponding voting tokens equal to the number of players involved. For example, if there are five players, you only get five tokens. Now, place each of the players’ colored bunny on the “start” position on the scoreboard. Shuffle the cards and deal 6 to each player.
After the cards are dealt the remaining cards will be used as the drawing deck.
Mécanique
The game is divided into turns that play out in a clockwise fashion. In each turn, one player acts as a narrator or a storyteller. This player picks one card from his hand and describes it as much as he or she can to the other players. It’s up to the narrator whether they want to be extremely obvious or wickedly ambiguous about their descriptions.
The narrator is free to use poems, songs, movie titles, noises, proverbs, feelings, and just about anything else they want to use to describe their chosen card.
Once the narrator has finished with their clue, he or she picks up his or her card and places it facedown in the middle of the table.
Now, the rest of the players have to search their hands for a card that best matches the description of the narrator. After that is settled, the rest of the players give the narrator their cards face down. The narrator then shuffles the cards and sets them face-up and side-by-side in the middle of the table. (If you have an extra stack of tokens, you can use them to label each card from 1 – 5. But, if you don’t, there’s no need to worry — just keep track of all their places.)
Now, every player except for the narrator must identify the narrator’s card using their voting tokens. Players are not allowed to vote on their own cards.
Once all votes are in, the narrator then reveals which of the cards is his.
Système de notation
If all the players find the narrator’s card then the narrator gets 0 points and every other player receives 2 points. If no player finds the narrator’s card, then the narrator receives 0 points and every other player receives 2 points.
If at least one player, but not all the players, find the narrator’s card then the narrator receives 3 points, and each player who found the narrator’s card receives 3 points. Furthermore, each player receives 1 bonus point per vote on their card.
After the scoring, you can now move your bunny up on the scoreboard for each point you receive.
Now that we’ve refreshed our knowledge of how to play Dixit let’s move on to our product review.
Dixit: Memories – Best for Dixit Expansion for Family
Vue d'ensemble
Memories is one of the most beautiful Dixit expansion packs you can find. Featuring the art style of both Carine Hinder et Jérôme Pélissier, Dixit: Memories has a lighter and brighter theme compared to the previous Dixit games on the market. This hasn’t stopped them from bringing in the same whimsy that Dixit has become known for, however. All its illustrations contain their own strangeness and absurdity that players can enjoy.
One thing that we found a little disappointing about this expansion pack, however, is its straightforwardness. Its illustrations, albeit strange and creative, are too obvious making it too easy to guess. Most expansion packs such as Odyssey and Journey have a bit more mystery and intrigue in their themes and we feel like Memories could’ve used a little more of that, too.
On the bright side, this simpler and much lighter design has made the Dixit: Memories the best choice for Dixit expansion packs for all ages.
Mécanique
This expansion pack doesn’t come with its own set of rules, so you can just stick with the original guidelines and enjoy the game!
Composants
The Dixit: Memories expansion pack contains a total of 84 cards, each with a unique Japanese animation-inspired illustration. Its illustrations have a more digitalized style than those of the previous designs which had a more hand-drawn feel. The expansion cards are made of thick high-quality cardboard for durability.
Avantages et inconvénients
Le jugement final
Dixit: Memories is a great choice for both beginner and veteran players. Although it does have less intrigue and mystery, it’s perfect for younger audiences and families. If you appreciate beautiful cards and Japanese-inspired illustrations, this expansion pack is for you!
If you’re buying your first expansion set and you want something that adds a bit more character to your games, the Dixit: Memories expansion pack might be worth the purchase. It’s family-friendly, good for its price, and made of high-quality material.
Dixit Quest — Best Budget Dixit Expansion Set
Vue d'ensemble
The Dixit Quest is a great addition to the basic set as it was made by Marie Cardouat, the original illustrator for the first Dixit game. It does, however, have a “darker” and more “sinister” theme than the base game, so it might not be the perfect expansion pack if you’re planning to play with younger children. This expansion pack is also the cheapest you’ll find that offers the best value.
You can play this as a standalone game, although we don’t recommend it.
Mécanique
Similar to Memories, the Quest expansion pack doesn’t come with its own set of rules. Just follow the basic mechanics from the original Dixit game.
Composants
This expansion pack comes with 84 cards illustrated by original artist Marie Cardouat. It’s made of thick, high-quality cardboard that helps it withstand frequent touching. It comes with a snug little box that makes it easier to carry and transport.
Avantages et inconvénients
Réflexions finales
The Dixit Quest expansion pack has the same art style as the original Dixit game, although it does have a darker theme. It’s not suitable for children under the age of 7, as some of the drawings are a little grim. It’s an affordable alternative and offers a high return-on-investment value. If you’re on a budget, this expansion pack is definitely something to consider.
If you want to stick to a single theme for your Dixit expansion cards, this set is for you. It has all the same whimsical drawings that make Dixit such a fun and interesting card game. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s more budget-friendly than all the other options.
Dixit Odyssey – Best for Dixit Expansion Pack
Vue d'ensemble
Dixit Odyssey is the best expansion pack on our list, and for a good reason. It comes in two versions: a standalone version and a regular expansion pack with just 84 cards.
The cards are of a much darker theme than the original Dixit pack.
It has a much more organized scoring system and allows you to play with up to 12 players each game.
Mécanique
The mechanics of the game is still the same. The only difference is that in Odyssey, players get to vote more than once (if you’re playing with more than six players).
This is because with more players, the probability of anyone guessing the right card decreases. But you don’t necessarily have to vote twice if you don’t want to.
If you vote once and you get it right, you get 4 points.
If you vote twice and get it right, you get 3 points.
Aside from this, the rules from the original game all still apply to Odyssey.
Composants
Standalone Version
The standalone expansion pack comes with a set of 84 cards that doubles the replayability value of the original game. It also includes a new game board design that works for both the scoring and helps players identify the cards as it has numbered slots on its side where cards are placed. Although arguably more efficient than the previous scoreboards, this new scoreboard design is a little less exciting, and the designers could have done better.
The wooden bunnies remain, only this time they’re much smaller and have more color variations. Unlike the basic game that uses voting tokens, Dixit Odyssey uses voting boards instead. These voting boards have small holes where “thumbtacks” — which are included in the box — are inserted during the voting stage.
Just like the tokens, each of the scoreboard colors corresponds with a bunny color. One downside we found about the Dixit voting boards is that most of the colors look the same, therefore it’s really hard to tell them apart.
Regular Version
The regular version only comes with 84 cards and none of the other components in the standalone version. It’s a great addition to the basic game and doubles its replayability value all the same.
Avantages et inconvénients
Réflexions finales
Dixit Odyssey has a lot more variety compared to the original Dixit game. It increases replayability and lets you play with up to 12 players at a time. The scoring system is a lot more fine-tuned compared to the original game, but the game board design could use a bit more imagination. All in all, it’s a great expansion pack for any new or veteran Dixit player.
Both the standalone and regular expansion packs are great additions to the basic game. If you’re looking to add more coordination to your gaming sessions, this is the perfect option for you.
Dixit: Harmonies − Best for Playing with Friends
Vue d'ensemble
Dixit: Harmonies challenges the players’ imagination and articulation with its abstract themes and illustrations. Unlike the other Dixit expansion packs, the drawings featured in Dixit: Harmonies have fewer color contrasts or clear figures that stand out.
Mécanique
The only difference you’ll find when playing Dixit: Harmonies is you’ll be digging deeper into your mind for ways to describe your card. So, instead of just describing one part of the card, you’ll need to describe the picture as a whole. You can also describe a situation or a feeling you feel when you look at the card.
As for scoring, everything is the same as the original Dixit game, so you don’t have to worry about learning new rules.
Composants
Similar to the other expansion packs, Dixit: Harmonies includes 84 new cards with a completely different artistic style from Paul Echegoyen. Its card illustrations have a bright and friendly theme, making them perfect for younger audiences.
Although, we think it would have been nicer if it came with extra pieces and tokens, similar to Dixit Odyssey.
Avantages et inconvénients
Réflexions finales
Dixit: Harmonies is an interesting and engaging expansion pack for the basic Dixit game. It features an entirely new art style and theme from Paul Echegoyen. If you’re someone who enjoys challenging your imagination and articulation, this expansion pack is great for you.
The Dixit: Harmonies expansion pack is a great alternative to Dixit: Journey, especially for people who prefer to play with more challenging images, but still want to accommodate younger players. If you’re getting ready for family game night, this expansion pack is a great choice.
Dixit Journey − Best for Older-Age Groups
Vue d'ensemble
If you’re looking for something that’s a little more obscure and strange, then the Journey is the expansion pack for you. The illustrations used for this pack really take you on a “journey” and leave quite a lot open to interpretation, just like Harmonies.
Although we ranked this one last, there’s a lot to love about Dixit Journey. For one thing, it has a ton of fun little details in its cards, like the blind old man feeding the oversized pelican at the park. Or the lady with the long hair, dragging small children off into the dark. The absurdity of all the drawings just makes it all the more challenging and fun to describe.
One downside that we find is that this expansion pack is a little pricier than all the other packs available.
Mécanique
The only change you’ll find while playing Dixit Journey is that its designs are much harder to describe than other illustrations. You’ll have a fun time wracking your brain for words and ways to give other players clues.
Composants
The Dixit: Journey expansin pack comes with 84 new cards that feature the creative and obscure work of Xavier Collette. Similar to Dixit Odyssey, its theme is darker compared to other expansion packs, so we don’t recommend it for younger players. It also has a much more digitalized look compared to Odyssey and Quest who have a more hand-drawn feel to them.
One downside that we found with Journey is that its cards are noticeably thinner than the original, so they might be more vulnerable to rips and tears. (Just another reason not to let children play with them.)
Avantages et inconvénients
Réflexions finales
The unique art style of Xavier Collette adds diversity to the basic Dixit game. The illustrations really get the narrators talking and the other players doing their best to guess what the card is. It’s not great for everyone, especially children under the age of 5, but it’s an extremely creative choice for people who like challenging their imaginations.
If you have a knack for the absurd and quirky, the Dixit: Journey expansion pack is the best choice for you. It features thought-provoking illustrations from Xavier Collette that add to the mystery and creativity of the game.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the expansion pack you choose will depend on personal taste and preferences. For example, if you’re more into dark and absurd art styles and themes, then Dixit Odyssey and Dixit: Journey would be great choices for you to consider. Alternatively, if you want something that’s more family-friendly and light, then Dixit: Memories is what you need.
If you’ve only started playing Dixit or are still thinking about buying the game, we suggest you check out the basic game and Dixit Odyssey to see which game board design and card illustrations you like best.
You can also check out the different card illustrations, here, before you make a final decision for which expansion pack you’re going to buy.
Enjoy and have a great journey!