OVERVIEW & GOAL

Renowned Mediums are competing to guess a Secret Object, with help from mysterious
Spirits giving Clues from the World Beyond!
These instructions are for 4 players, but you can add more players.*
There are 2 teams, each with 1 Medium and 1 Spirit. There is a Secret Object that both
Spirits know. Each Spirit wants their Medium to guess the Object first. Mediums take turns
giving their Spirit secret Question Cards to answer about the Object. The Spirit writes an
answer (Clue) slowly, letter by letter until interrupted by their Medium. The first Medium to
guess the Object wins for their team!

*More than 4 players:

Add more Mediums to each team. Mediums on a team share their hand of cards,
work together, and can pass secret notes. Any of them can call “Silencio.”

The Object
PAP PLAN 1 Apple.
2 Cal
enda r.
GOO WOR 3 Snow
m an.
S OFF 4 Chi
li.
5 Fox.

6 Tabl
e.

The Pad
102 Question Cards 52 Object Cards

2 Pencils
Sun team’s side Moon team’s side

SETUP

1. Split the players into 2 groups: the Sun team Moon team
and the Moon team.
2. Decide who on your team is the Spirit and who
is the Medium.
3. Each Medium draws 7 Question Cards and
privately looks at their cards.
4. Together, the Sun Spirit and Moon Spirit draw
1 Object card to share. They look at it without
showing the Mediums. Together, they choose
which word will be the Object for this game. Spirits Mediums
(They can use the numbers to discuss) Sun team

SEATING DIAGRAM
 PLAY
Teams take turns. The Sun team goes first. On your team’s turn, rotate the Pad to face your
team. The team’s Medium decides either to ASK A QUESTION or GUESS THE OBJECT, then
follows the steps:

ASK A QUESTION — OR — GUESS THE OBJECT

(to receive a Clue)
1. You, the Medium, choose and give 2
Question Cards from your hand to your
Spirit.
2. Your Spirit chooses 1 to answer, gives it
back to you, and discards the other face
up.
3. In your team’s next space on the Pad,
your Spirit starts to slowly write a
Clue. The Clue must answer the chosen
Question about the Object.
Spirits should say the letters aloud as
they write
4. When you think you know the Clue
your Spirit is writing, call “Silencio.”
Your Spirit stops writing. (If they are
writing a letter, they finish it, then stop)
5. Place the answered Question face down
in front of you. You can peek at it if you
forget.
6. You draw 2 Question Cards.
(to try to win)
1. You, the Medium, write the first letter of
your Guess in your team’s next space on
the Pad, and say the letter aloud.
If the letter is correct, your Spirit
knocks on the table. Add the next
letter, and say the letter aloud. Repeat
until you get a letter wrong, or com-
plete your guess.
If the letter is wrong, your Spirit
puts their finger to their lips. Cross
out the wrong letter. Your turn is
over.
2. When you finish writing your Guess,
add a period. If you’ve correctly written
the Object, your team wins!
There’s no penalty for making an incorrect
Guess, except that you waste a turn when
you could have been getting a Clue.

STRATEGY TIP

Mediums: Say “Silencio” as Spirits: Choose a Clue that will be

soon as you can. It’s better to say clear to your Medium after only a few
“Silencio” early so the other team letters. Write slowly; give them time
doesn’t get too much info. to say “Silencio.”

What kinds of Clues can I give?

 CLUES
Clues must answer the chosen Question Card about the Object
Clues can only contain letters and spaces
Clues should be in a language all players know
Clues cannot contain any form of the Object (e.g. if the Object is “Airplane,” you can’t
answer “Air” or “Plane” or “Deplaning”)
Otherwise, Spirits can use whatever Clue they like—dictionary words, proper nouns, and
made up words are all okay! You can even use multiple-word phrases, but careful: they often
give away too much.

EYE SPACES
When your team starts a turn at a space with an Eye icon, your team’s Medium asks to see
the next letter of any Clue on the Pad (from either team). The Spirit who wrote that Clue
adds the next letter. Then your team continues your turn, as normal.

EXAMPLE TURN
Avery, a Medium, hands 2 Question Cards to Jordan, her team’s Spirit. Jordan chooses the card
“What is it made of,” shows it to Avery, and discards the other card. The Object is “Calendar,” so
Jordan decides to respond “Paper.” Jordan writes ‘P A P’ in the empty space, pausing after each letter.
Avery thinks the Clue is “Paper,” and says “Silencio” to hide the rest of the answer from the other
team.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What if the Medium doesn’t say “Silencio”? — If the Spirit writes the last letter of a Clue
without the Medium calling “Silencio,” they add a period to the end of the Clue to show the
word is complete.
What if I don’t like my Question Cards? — Once per game, each team’s Medium may
discard their Question Cards face up and draw 7 new ones.
What if all the spaces on the Pad are full? — If neither team correctly GUESSES THE
OBJECT in 8 rounds, both teams lose.
Can I look things up? — Spirits can! Mediums cannot.
Table talk — Spirits can’t give any additional guidance. Be careful to avoid saying things like
“this Clue is going to be hard.”

Read more FAQs at PhantomInkGame.com/faq

 FAVORITE
SIZE DANGER INSTRUMENT
FOOD
If it were
If it had a
What’s it What’s about a musical
favorite food,
about the as dangerous instrument,
what would it
same size as? as it? what would it
be?
be?
FOOD
SIZE DANGER INSTRUMENT
FAVORITE
COST WEIGHT ANIMAL FOOD
If it were an If it were a
What does it What does it
animal, what food, what
cost about the weigh about
animal would food would it
same as? the same as?
it be? be?
COST WEIGHT ANIMAL FOOD
 HISTORICAL CHARACTER TRANSPORT CONCEPT
Who’s a Who’s a What abstract
historical fictional How is it concept is
figure that had character that transported? it associated
or used it? has or uses it? with?
HISTORICAL CHARACTER TRANSPORT CONCEPT
HOW IT’S
ACADEMIC CELEBRITY WEAPON
MADE
What Who’s a How would
How is it
academic field celebrity that you use it as a
made?
studies it? has or uses it? weapon?
MADE
ACADEMIC CELEBRITY WEAPON
HOW IT’S
 ADJECTIVE CATEGORY CONTAINER SMELL
What
What adjective What category
container What does it
best describes of objects does
would you smell like?
it? it fall under?
keep it in?
ADJECTIVE CATEGORY CONTAINER SMELL
ACCIDENT GREEK GOD COLOR NEED
What ancient
What accident Greek or What’s
or injury Roman god What color is something you
would it is it most it? need in order
cause? associated to use it?
with?
ACCIDENT GREEK GOD COLOR NEED
 SCIENCE USE WHO USES IT MATERIAL
What field of What kind of
What is it What material
science studies people have or
used for? is it made of?
it? use it?
SCIENCE USE WHO USES IT MATERIAL
TASTE GENRE CAUSE STORE
What genre of What kind of
What does it movie or book What causes store are you
taste like? is most likely you to use it? most likely to
to feature it? find it in?
TASTE GENRE CAUSE STORE
 SOUND
POWER MEDIA VARIETY
EFFECT
What
What’s a book,
onomatopoeia What’s a
What powers movie, or TV
does it make variety it
it? show that it
(“boom”, comes in?
appears in?
“meow”, etc.)?
EFFECT
POWER MEDIA VARIETY
SOUND
NICKNAME BODY PART PROFESSION BRAND
What part
What’s a What What’s a
of the body
nickname for profession common
do you use it
it? works with it? brand of it?
with?
NICKNAME BODY PART PROFESSION BRAND
 INSIDE MAKE WHERE USED HOUSE
What’s
Where in a
What’s inside something Where do you
house would
it? you can make use it?
you find it?
using it?
INSIDE MAKE WHERE USED HOUSE
LIES SIMILAR FAVORITE DISCARD
What has Where does
NOTHING to What’s What’s your it go when it
do with it, just something favorite type dies, breaks,
to confuse the that is like it? of it? or is no longer
other team? useful?
LIES SIMILAR FAVORITE DISCARD
 WHERE WHO MAKES FIGHT REGION
What
continent or
What causes
Where would Who or what region would
people to fight
you find it? makes it? you find the
over it?
most of these
in?
WHERE WHO MAKES FIGHT REGION
STORAGE BUY AGE CITY
What city
Where would What age
Where is it is it most
you buy or group likes it
stored? associated
obtain one? the most?
with?
STORAGE BUY AGE CITY
 STORY SUPERHERO SCHOOL SHAPE
What fairy What
What subject What’s a
tale or nursery superhero
in school geometric
rhyme does it is it most
teaches about shape that it
most belong associated
it? includes?
in? with?
STORY SUPERHERO SCHOOL SHAPE
CLOTHES ASSOCIATION DISLIKE NEAREST
What’s What’s the
something you first word that Who dislikes Where is the
wear when pops into your it? nearest one?
using it? head about it?
CLOTHES ASSOCIATION DISLIKE NEAREST
 FEELING GIFT LONGEVITY CHANGE
How do you
How do you How long will
feel when What changes
feel after using it last if left
someone gifts it?
it? alone?
it to you?
FEELING GIFT LONGEVITY CHANGE
YOUR
LIFETIME AFFECT HILL
OPINION
How does How would it
At what point How do you
it affect the react to being
in your life is personally feel
things around pushed down
it most useful? about it?
it? a hill?
OPINION
LIFETIME AFFECT HILL
YOUR
 HALF HABITAT RAIN NOISE
What do you What habitat What happens What kind of
do with it if would you be to it when it’s noise does it
you only have most likely to left out in the make when
half of it? find it in? rain? used?
HALF HABITAT RAIN NOISE
COUNTRY TEXTURE WATER HOLIDAY
What country What holiday
What does it What happens
is it most is it most
feel like when if you put it
associated associated
you touch it? underwater?
with? with?
COUNTRY TEXTURE WATER HOLIDAY
 SUPER
DROPPED BURY GAME
POWER
What noise What would
What What’s a game
does it happen if it
superpower that it appears
make when was buried for
would it want? in?
dropped? a year?
POWER
DROPPED BURY GAME
SUPER
NOT THIS
PARTY TIME DESTROY
MATERIAL
What material What party What would
What time of
is it NOT theme would you use to
day is it used?
made of? fit it best? destroy it?
MATERIAL
PARTY TIME DESTROY
NOT THIS
 OPPOSITE LIKE FREQUENCY PROBLEM
Who at this How
What’s its What problem
table likes it frequently do
opposite? does it solve?
the most? you use it?
OPPOSITE LIKE FREQUENCY PROBLEM
2ND
INCORRECT LIFT MOVES
MATERIAL
What’s the
What’s an
secondary Who or what How does it
incorrect way
material it’s can lift it? move?
to use it?
made of?
MATERIAL
INCORRECT LIFT MOVES
2ND
CEREMONY TOURIST MOOD
What tourist
What
destination
ceremony What mood
would you
would it does it cause?
most likely
appear in?
find it at?
CEREMONY TOURIST MOOD
HOLD RESTAURANT EAT
What kind
of restaurant What would
How do you
would be most happen if you
hold onto it?
likely to serve ate it?
it?
HOLD RESTAURANT EAT
1 Cactus. 1 Monocle. 1 Trophy. 1 Pig.
2 Igloo. 2 Feather. 2 Cougar. 2 Pillow.
3 Popcorn. 3 Book. 3 Fox. 3 Submarine.
4 Penguin. 4 Crayon. 4 Wallet. 4 Iceberg.
5 Headphones. 5 Sled. 5 Peacock. 5 Skyscraper.
6 Tiger. 6 Seahorse. 6 Ruby. 6 Hat.
1 Marble. 1 Oven. 1 Grill. 1 Camera.
2 Parasol. 2 Quill. 2 Stove. 2 Fork.
3 Caterpillar. 3 Metronome. 3 Printer. 3 Whale.
4 Chili. 4 Cheese. 4 Egg. 4 Match.
5 Corkscrew. 5 Wand. 5 Leash. 5 Clock.
6 Chalkboard. 6 Duck. 6 Thermos. 6 Mirror.
1 Hydrant. 1 Hammock. 1 Wrench. 1 Radio.
2 Pencil. 2 Box. 2 Anchor. 2 Chocolate.
3 Barn. 3 Cake. 3 Ladder. 3 Map.
4 Stamp. 4 Harp. 4 Skull. 4 Flower.
5 Platypus. 5 Dinosaur. 5 Whistle. 5 Television.
6 Ruler. 6 Guitar. 6 Violin. 6 Dictionary.
1 Crown. 1 Saw. 1 Chain. 1 Magazine.
2 Balloon. 2 Cherry. 2 Honey. 2 Sun.
3 Fence. 3 Zombie. 3 Tent. 3 Horse.
4 Stapler. 4 Vulture. 4 Towel. 4 Cloud.
5 Hammer. 5 Knife. 5 Peanut. 5 Broom.
6 Helmet. 6 Rat. 6 Pizza. 6 Starfish.
1 Ladle. 1 Pineapple. 1 Sandal. 1 Rope.
2 Statue. 2 Worm. 2 Crow. 2 Car.
3 Cat. 3 Mouse. 3 Battery. 3 Apron.
4 Sink. 4 Coconut. 4 Slipper. 4 Snorkel.
5 Sausage. 5 Unicorn. 5 Basketball. 5 Icicle.
6 Deer. 6 Compass. 6 Snowball. 6 Shirt.
1 Bed. 1 Bread. 1 Cloak. 1 Ostrich.
2 Ring. 2 Uniform. 2 Gong. 2 Panda.
3 Toilet. 3 Chopstick. 3 Mosquito. 3 Receipt.
4 Globe. 4 Pitchfork. 4 Coffee. 4 Slide.
5 Door. 5 Wheelchair. 5 Bicycle. 5 Skeleton.
6 Sock. 6 Jellyfish. 6 Shower. 6 Bridge.
1 Seesaw. 1 Computer. 1 Boot. 1 Beetle.
2 Dragon. 2 Drum. 2 Roof. 2 Ramen.
3 Jackhammer. 3 Suitcase. 3 Necklace. 3 Catapult.
4 Zipper. 4 Blanket. 4 Truck. 4 Watermelon.
5 Sand. 5 Sunflower. 5 Windmill. 5 Flashlight.
6 Squid. 6 Sandwich. 6 Lamp. 6 Dolphin.
1 Spatula. 1 Tissue. 1 Shield. 1 Brain.
2 Giraffe. 2 Microphone. 2 Diamond. 2 Fireplace.
3 Satellite. 3 Acorn. 3 Comb. 3 Lawnmower.
4 Sword. 4 Lunchbox. 4 Turtle. 4 Laptop.
5 Heart. 5 Butterfly. 5 Tire. 5 Chair.
6 Castle. 6 Fossil. 6 Brick. 6 Gate.
1 Bear. 1 Elevator. 1 Pigeon. 1 Doll.
2 Safe. 2 Pyramid. 2 Ship. 2 House.
3 Planet. 3 Stilt. 3 Soap. 3 Crane.
4 Train. 4 Octopus. 4 Telescope. 4 Burrito.
5 Spoon. 5 Staff. 5 Toothpick. 5 Snail.
6 Newspaper. 6 Rainbow. 6 Window. 6 Skateboard.
1 Microwave. 1 Butter. 1 Shovel. 1 Earring.
2 Podium. 2 Shoe. 2 Magnet. 2 Mushroom.
3 Wine. 3 Screwdriver. 3 Scissors. 3 Backpack.
4 Apple. 4 Camel. 4 Vacuum. 4 Crystal.
5 Pancake. 5 Tea. 5 Pen. 5 Toothpaste.
6 Rose. 6 Steak. 6 Eraser. 6 Jam.
1 Helicopter. 1 Parrot. 1 Milk. 1 Organ.
2 Pumpkin. 2 Sponge. 2 Vacuum. 2 Crowbar.
3 Tree. 3 Needle. 3 Buoy. 3 Robot.
4 Ant. 4 Basket. 4 Candle. 4 Kite.
5 Toothbrush. 5 Mask. 5 Cabbage. 5 Flag.
6 Missile. 6 Chalk. 6 Pie. 6 Birdhouse.
1 Key. 1 Stump. 1 Dog. 1 Toaster.
2 Eagle. 2 Binoculars. 2 Toast. 2 Chainsaw.
3 Mermaid. 3 Ski. 3 Mountain. 3 Tractor.
4 Umbrella. 4 Gold. 4 Tape. 4 Blowfish.
5 Painting. 5 Mailbox. 5 Jar. 5 Mustard.
6 Goldfish. 6 Envelope. 6 Perfume. 6 Ambulance.
1 Sidewalk. 1 Ticket.
2 Cigar. 2 Coin.
3 Keyboard. 3 Scorpion.
4 Piano. 4 Sunglasses.
5 Zebra. 5 Bottle.
6 Steamroller. 6 Blender.
1 Lightbulb. 1 Fish.
2 Pearl. 2 Sugar.
3 Puzzle. 3 Moon.
4 Baseball. 4 Bowl.
5 Bell. 5 Treadmill.
6 Elephant. 6 Snowshoe.
 What’s it about the same size as? What’s about as dangerous as it? If it were a musical instrument, what would it be? If it had a favorite food, what would it be?
What does it cost about the same as? What does it weigh about the same as? If it were an animal, what animal would it be? If it were a food, what food would it be?
Who’s a historical figure that had or used it? Who’s a fictional character that has or uses it? How is it transported? What abstract concept is it associated with?
What academic field studies it? Who’s a celebrity that has or uses it? How is it made? How would you use it as a weapon?
 What adjective best describes it? What category of objects does it fall under? What container would you keep it in? What does it smell like?
What accident or injury would it cause? What ancient Greek or Roman god is it most associated with? What color is it? What’s something you need in order to use it?
What field of science studies it? What is it used for? What kind of people have or use it? What material is it made of?
What does it taste like? What genre of movie or book is most likely to feature it? What causes you to use it? What kind of store are you most likely to find it in?
What onomatopoeia does it make (“boom”, “meow”, etc.)? What powers it? What’s a book, movie, or TV show that it appears in? What’s a variety it comes in?
What’s a nickname for it? What part of the body do you use it with? What profession works with it? What’s a common brand of it?
 What’s inside it? What’s something you can make using it? Where do you use it? Where in a house would you find it?
What has NOTHING to do with it, just to confuse the other team? What’s something that is like it? What’s your favorite type of it? Where does it go when it dies, breaks, or is no longer useful?
Where would you find it? Who or what makes it? What causes people to fight over it? What continent or region would you find the most of these in?
Where is it stored? Where would you buy or obtain one? What age group likes it the most? What city is it most associated with?
What fairy tale or nursery rhyme does it most belong in? What superhero is it most associated with? What subject in school teaches about it? What’s a geometric shape that it includes?
What’s something you wear when using it? What’s the first word that pops into your head about it? Who dislikes it? Where is the nearest one?
 How do you feel after using it? How do you feel when someone gifts it to you? How long will it last if left alone? What changes it?
At what point in your life is it most useful? How do you personally feel about it? How does it affect the things around it? How would it react to being pushed down a hill?
What do you do with it if you only have half of it? What habitat would you be most likely to find it in? What happens to it when it’s left out in the rain? What kind of noise does it make when used?
What country is it most associated with? What does it feel like when you touch it? What happens if you put it underwater? What holiday is it most associated with?
What noise does it make when dropped? What superpower would it want? What would happen if it was buried for a year? What’s a game that it appears in?
What material is it NOT made of? What party theme would fit it best? What time of day is it used? What would you use to destroy it?
 What’s its opposite? Who at this table likes it the most? How frequently do you use it? What problem does it solve?
What’s an incorrect way to use it? What’s the secondary material it’s made of? Who or what can lift it? How does it move?
What ceremony would it appear in? What tourist destination would you most likely find it at? What mood does it cause?
How do you hold onto it? What kind of restaurant would be most likely to serve it? What would happen if you ate it?
Camera Grill Oven Marble

Pig Trophy Monocle Cactus

Magazine Chain Saw Crown

Radio Wrench Hammock Hydrant

Ostrich Cloak Bread Bed

Rope Sandal Pineapple Ladle

Brain Shield Tissue Spatula

Beetle Boot Computer Seesaw

Earring Shovel Butter Microwave

Doll Pigeon Elevator Bear

Toaster Dog Stump Key

Organ Milk Parrot Helicopter

Fish Lightbulb

Ticket Sidewalk