Words in the Wall is a two-player visual narrative board game in which the players, embodying a husband and a wife, create a story through the process of designing a wallpaper.
I co-designed the entire game--from concept to the mechanics, from writing to the art. Below is a short introduction to the game followed by detailed instructions.
Taking turns, they create a wallpaper pattern that follows a continuous line from the start to the end, collecting secrets on their way. After the design phase, they use the story elements on the cards and their own imagination to create a story. What is going on? Then using the secrets that were hidden in the wallpaper, the players twist up the story to their fancy, building a new narrative. What has really happened? Did the husband murder his wife, did she break out of prison, was somebody kidnapped?
Any story is possible, if you use your imagination to bend the cards to your will!
Take a look at the playing cards...
The complete instructions
Materials
23 Her Cards
Yellow cards played by the woman. They contain the main narrative.
23 Her Cards
Yellow cards played by the woman. They contain the main narrative.
17 His Cards
Pink cards played by the husband. They contain questions.
Pink cards played by the husband. They contain questions.
15 Secret Cards (3 of each type)
Blue cards with icons played at the end of the game. The woman can use them
to escape from the room.
Blue cards with icons played at the end of the game. The woman can use them
to escape from the room.
3 Start & End Cards
Yellow. Contain a drawing, prompt and resolution on the backside.
Yellow. Contain a drawing, prompt and resolution on the backside.
5 Tokens
Blue circles to be placed on the grid. Icons match with those on the secret cards.
Blue circles to be placed on the grid. Icons match with those on the secret cards.
1 Candle
1 tin of Sunrise incense
1 incense dish
Bring: matches or a lighter.
1 tin of Sunrise incense
1 incense dish
Bring: matches or a lighter.
Scene
It’s 19th-century USA. You play a husband and wife. The husband has forced
his wife to bed rest. All she can do is write and stare at the yellow paper that covers the
walls around her. As time goes by, she uncovers more and more secrets in the
wallpaper that can reveal her story.
It’s 19th-century USA. You play a husband and wife. The husband has forced
his wife to bed rest. All she can do is write and stare at the yellow paper that covers the
walls around her. As time goes by, she uncovers more and more secrets in the
wallpaper that can reveal her story.
How to Play
Getting ready
Sit in a dark room, alone or with your partner. Make sure you have a box of matches on you.
With a match, light the candle and place it on the right of the map. Look at the flame, take it in.
Once you have become fully aware of your surroundings, pour some incense powder onto the
dish and light it. Waft the incense around your space.
Decide who is playing the woman and the husband. The woman will play using ‘Her Cards’, and
the husband will play using ‘His Cards’. Together you will create a wallpaper design and write a
story about your relationship.
Getting ready
Sit in a dark room, alone or with your partner. Make sure you have a box of matches on you.
With a match, light the candle and place it on the right of the map. Look at the flame, take it in.
Once you have become fully aware of your surroundings, pour some incense powder onto the
dish and light it. Waft the incense around your space.
Decide who is playing the woman and the husband. The woman will play using ‘Her Cards’, and
the husband will play using ‘His Cards’. Together you will create a wallpaper design and write a
story about your relationship.
Setting up
Lay out your grid and place the secret cards on their assigned slots. On this grid, you will
design a yellow wallpaper pattern, using a combination of Her and His cards. The wallpaper
contains many secrets, represented by the tokens. Shuffle the Her and His card decks
separately--never, under any circumstances should you read the text on the inside of the cards
(until the rules tell you to do so)!
Lay out your grid and place the secret cards on their assigned slots. On this grid, you will
design a yellow wallpaper pattern, using a combination of Her and His cards. The wallpaper
contains many secrets, represented by the tokens. Shuffle the Her and His card decks
separately--never, under any circumstances should you read the text on the inside of the cards
(until the rules tell you to do so)!
Placing the tokens
Together with your partner, take a token and hold it together. Place the token in the center of
the grid, making sure you are both touching it. Now, move the token together and let the spirit
of the wallpaper guide you where to place it on the grid. Repeat for every token. Only one
token per grid square is allowed.
Together with your partner, take a token and hold it together. Place the token in the center of
the grid, making sure you are both touching it. Now, move the token together and let the spirit
of the wallpaper guide you where to place it on the grid. Repeat for every token. Only one
token per grid square is allowed.
Playing the game
1. From your pile of cards, draw a total of 10 cards. You are not allowed to read the text.
The woman decides where they put the start card (on the leftmost column), and the
husband decides the position of the end card (rightmost column). The start and end
cards cannot be placed on a token.
1. From your pile of cards, draw a total of 10 cards. You are not allowed to read the text.
The woman decides where they put the start card (on the leftmost column), and the
husband decides the position of the end card (rightmost column). The start and end
cards cannot be placed on a token.
2. Starting at the start card, the players take turns placing cards on the grid to create a
wallpaper design. A single line must run from the start card to the end card. The
woman places the first card.
wallpaper design. A single line must run from the start card to the end card. The
woman places the first card.
3. The players work together to reach the end card. Individually they try to collect as
many secrets in the wall as possible.
many secrets in the wall as possible.
4. Players can claim a secret by placing a card of their own color on top of a token. The
symbol on the token corresponds to a secret card on the board, which comes into play
after the end card has been reached. Whilst designing the wallpaper, make sure that no
matter what, you follow a continuous line. Watch out: when you reach the edge of the
board or a dead end and can’t place another card onto the grid, both players lose
because they could not complete the story. Start over.
symbol on the token corresponds to a secret card on the board, which comes into play
after the end card has been reached. Whilst designing the wallpaper, make sure that no
matter what, you follow a continuous line. Watch out: when you reach the edge of the
board or a dead end and can’t place another card onto the grid, both players lose
because they could not complete the story. Start over.
5. Once the players reach the end card, the players flip the cards one by one from start to
end and read aloud the story you have created together (the first card is the start card,
the last card the end card). Take time to take in the message in the wallpaper. What is
the state of the relationship, what has led to it being this way? What is your story?
end and read aloud the story you have created together (the first card is the start card,
the last card the end card). Take time to take in the message in the wallpaper. What is
the state of the relationship, what has led to it being this way? What is your story?
6. After interpreting the yellow wallpaper, the players collect as many secret cards from
the deck as they have collected tokens (the cards must match the image on the tokens).
The players can use them to reshape the story to their fancy. Taking turns, the players
read their collected secret cards and place them directly on top of Her or His cards as
they see fit–they are not limited to cards of their own type.
the deck as they have collected tokens (the cards must match the image on the tokens).
The players can use them to reshape the story to their fancy. Taking turns, the players
read their collected secret cards and place them directly on top of Her or His cards as
they see fit–they are not limited to cards of their own type.
7. Reinterpret the story together, now including the secret cards. What happened? Create
the most compelling story you can think of, together. Was it a murder, a kidnapping, a
prison break? etc. etc.
the most compelling story you can think of, together. Was it a murder, a kidnapping, a
prison break? etc. etc.
Goal
The goal of this game is to design a wallpaper together from the start to the end card, creating
a convincing and coherent narrative using the cards in the deck. Both players try to collect as
many tokens on the way to win the game.
The goal of this game is to design a wallpaper together from the start to the end card, creating
a convincing and coherent narrative using the cards in the deck. Both players try to collect as
many tokens on the way to win the game.
Alternative mode of play: Single player
Placing the tokens
If your journey is solitary, place the tokens blindly on the grid, letting the spirit of the
wallpaper guide you. Once a token is placed, make sure it is within one of the grid squares.
Only one token per grid square is allowed.
Placing the tokens
If your journey is solitary, place the tokens blindly on the grid, letting the spirit of the
wallpaper guide you. Once a token is placed, make sure it is within one of the grid squares.
Only one token per grid square is allowed.
How to play
You will be playing as the woman, using only Her cards. You can decide where to place the start
and end cards, as long as they are in the leftmost and rightmost columns respectively. Shuffle
the deck of Her cards and take the top 15 cards that you will be using. Do not read the text on
the inside of the cards! Make a pattern in the wallpaper by placing the cards within the grid
squares, making sure a single line runs from the start card to the end card. Your goal is that
you must collect all your secret tokens! Once you have made your pattern, flip the cards
around, one at a time, and relish in the story you have created. Then take a secret card from
each stack, and add them to the story in a meaningful way. What has happened? How do you
escape? Use the secret cards for interpretation.
You will be playing as the woman, using only Her cards. You can decide where to place the start
and end cards, as long as they are in the leftmost and rightmost columns respectively. Shuffle
the deck of Her cards and take the top 15 cards that you will be using. Do not read the text on
the inside of the cards! Make a pattern in the wallpaper by placing the cards within the grid
squares, making sure a single line runs from the start card to the end card. Your goal is that
you must collect all your secret tokens! Once you have made your pattern, flip the cards
around, one at a time, and relish in the story you have created. Then take a secret card from
each stack, and add them to the story in a meaningful way. What has happened? How do you
escape? Use the secret cards for interpretation.
Goal
Create a compelling narrative by following the lines of the wallpaper.
Create a compelling narrative by following the lines of the wallpaper.
Created in 2021 by
Jet Vellinga
and
Tassneen Bashir
Jet Vellinga
and
Tassneen Bashir