One of the great no-prep party games is coming back. At UK Games Expo, British designer James Wallis revealed that a fourth edition of The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen is on the way, published in partnership with Philadelphia's 9th Level Games.
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See how it worksIf you've never played it, Baron Munchausen needs no board, no dice and no games master. Players take on the roles of boastful 18th-century aristocrats and take turns telling increasingly absurd tall tales, while rivals can wager coins to interrupt and poke holes in the logic. It's pure improvised storytelling, and a brilliant icebreaker for a group that fancies something different.
The game matters more than its slim rulebook suggests. First published in 1998 by Hogshead Publishing, it's widely credited as one of the games that helped kick off the indie, story-first roleplaying movement that shaped countless designs since. Wallis is a notable figure in British gaming in his own right: he founded the Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming back in 2001.
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Start organising for free9th Level Games, known for its humour-forward design and bold production, is promising a fuller treatment than the original's minimalist booklet. Crowdfunding is planned for autumn 2026 on BackerKit, with a commercial release targeted for summer 2027.
It's a long wait, but you don't need to wait to play a storytelling night. Grab some friends, set a daft theme and organise a game night of your own.
Sources: Geek Native | Wikipedia: Baron Munchausen | Wikipedia: James Wallis
