- BGG rank
- BGG #241
- BGG rating
- 7.5
The Resistance: Avalon
- 5–10 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,505
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Contraband
1950
Rules assistance for Contraband
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 20 min
- 7+
- Complexity 1.4/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Contraband
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Contraband is a board game released in 1950 for 3–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up.
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About the game
One player takes on the role of Customs Agent (this rotates, though) while the others are all travelers who truthfully or falsely declare items in their luggage (four cards drawn from a deck of items including wine, cigars, cameras, necklaces, etc.) If the Customs Agent believes them, they simply pay a duty fee and then the next player repeats the process. If the Customs Agent does not believe the player, they may "search" the player's luggage (cards are revealed) with two results. If the player declared accurately, the Customs Agent must pay the player 200 for defamation of character. If the player declared incorrectly, he must pay the Customs Agent fines for all items in his luggage. Other players can also act as Informants and search luggage and there is also an attache case in the deck that can give someone diplomatic immunity and allow them to pass through Customs without being searched or paying duty fees. Of course one can bluff about having this in their hand, as well...
Questions and answers
Contraband supports 3–6 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 Contraband 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 Contraband for ages 7 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.
Contraband has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
Contraband belongs to these categories: Card Game and Bluffing. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Contraband and want something comparable for your next game night.
The catalogue lists Contraband 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.