- BGG rank
- BGG #17,212
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Des chiffres et des lettres
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1983
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,971
- BGG rating
- 5.3
Countdown
1982
Rules assistance for Countdown
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.0/5
Rules assistant for Countdown
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Countdown is a board game released in 1982 for 2–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Armand Jammot and its main mechanics are Spelling.
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About the game
User review: Mirroring the television series, all players play simultaneously. The clock from the series is replaced by a gizmo that plays the think music from the series. The player who can make the longest word from nine random letters is the only person to score in the word game. The player who can come closest to target number using six random numbers and simple mathematical operations is the only person to score in the numbers game. The sequence of play is three word games, a numbers game, three word games, and a numbers game. The final game is called Conundrum: players are challenged to unscramble a nine-letter word. The first to solve the Conundrum scores. The players tally their points and the player who scored the most wins.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Waddingtons
- Milton Bradley
- Spear's Games
- Drumond Park Ltd.
- Marks & Spencer
- Britannia Games
- Rocket Games
- Yorkshire Television Channel 4
Questions and answers
Countdown supports 2–6 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 Countdown is 30 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 Countdown for ages 8 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.
Countdown has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Countdown belongs to these categories: Word Game, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Spelling. 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 Countdown are: Armand Jammot. 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 Countdown 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.