William Shakespeare wrote approximately 38 or 39 plays, depending on scholarly consensus. The traditional count stems from the First Folio published in 1623, which lists 36 plays, with debates centering on collaborations and attributions. Recent scholarship often includes additional works like Pericles and The Two Noble Kinsmen.

Traditional Count

The First Folio contains 36 plays , divided into tragedies, comedies, and histories, forming the core Shakespeare canon. These include timeless works like Hamlet , Romeo and Juliet , and King Lear. This number was long accepted as definitive, but modern analysis has expanded it.

Debated Additions

Scholars debate 2-4 extra plays :

  • Pericles (often counted as the 37th or 38th due to partial Shakespeare authorship).
  • The Two Noble Kinsmen (co-written with John Fletcher).
  • Edward III (accepted by many since the 1990s for Shakespeare's hand in parts).
  • Sir Thomas More (a contribution to a collaborative revision).

Total ranges from 37 to 40 extant plays , excluding lost works like Cardenio. Forums like Reddit highlight this ongoing discussion, with users noting the Folio's exclusions.

Forum Perspectives

"There are thirty-six plays listed in the First Folio. Pericles and The Two Noble Kinsmen are two plays which aren't in the Folio but are often listed among Shakespeare's plays."

Online threads reflect lively debate, mirroring academic views—some stick to 37 (Folio + Pericles), others push to 38-40.

Lost and Collaborative Works

One confirmed lost play , Cardenio (co-authored, referenced in records), brings potential totals higher. Collaborations challenge solo-author counts, as stylometric analysis now attributes parts of several plays to Shakespeare. No major updates as of 2026 shift this consensus.

TL;DR : 38 plays is the most common figure today, blending Folio staples with key attributions—perfect for trivia nights or deep dives into the Bard's legacy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.