- BGG rank
- BGG #2,886
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Code 777
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1985
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,940
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Code Breaker
1998
Rules assistance for Code Breaker
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Code Breaker
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Code Breaker is a board game released in 1998 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Alex Randolph and Robert Abbott and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
A fairly simple and quick deduction game. Cards come in three types; Artists, Thinkers and Leaders, each with a picture and short biography of an appropriate historical character, and in two colors, red if born before 1700 and yellow if afterwards. The Code Master chooses a pattern for cards to be laid down in incorporating color, type or both, either from the Code cards supplied or by inventing his own. Players, including the Code Master, then take it in turns to play cards from their hands and are told whether the cards are correct or not. If a player deduces the pattern before running out of cards he scores; otherwise the Code Master scores. Based, according to the rule leaflet, on a game by the same author called Eleusis published in 1963.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Winning Moves Germany
- Winning Moves UK Ltd.
Questions and answers
Code Breaker supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Code Breaker is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Code Breaker for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Code Breaker has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Code Breaker belongs to these categories: Card Game and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Code Breaker are: Alex Randolph and Robert Abbott. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Code Breaker as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.