
- BGG rank
- BGG #650
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Detective: City of Angels
- 1–5 players
- 30–150 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2019

2024
Rules assistance for ContraBanter
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
ContraBanter is a board game released in 2024 for 2–15 players, 20–40 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Phil Gross and its main mechanics are Deduction, Team-Based Game, and Questions and Answers.
ContraBanter is a Word-Smuggling game where you'll work as a team to sneak secret words into a conversation! Each turn begins with an opponent asking a question or using one of the provided prompt cards to get the conversation started. From there, the smuggling team will have 90 seconds to hide their words throughout their discussion. The other team will be listening closely and at any time they can pause the clock and use one of their three chances each round to try to guess your secret words. You'll get points from successfully sneaking your secret words by your opponents and correctly identifying and confiscating their secret words. Whoever has the most points at the end of three rounds is the winner!
ContraBanter supports 2–15 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 ContraBanter is 20–40 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 ContraBanter 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.
ContraBanter has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
ContraBanter belongs to these categories: Word Game, Party Game, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Deduction, Team-Based Game, and Questions and Answers. 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 ContraBanter are: Phil Gross. 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 ContraBanter 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.