
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,487
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Restoration
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2026

2023
Rules assistance for Counter Spy
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.
Counter Spy is a board game released in 2023 for 2 players, 10–20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Toàn Nguyễn and Mẫn Trần and its main mechanics are Deduction.
In CounterSpy, you will have 15 cards. Randomly choose 1 face down to become the Spy (hidden card) Reveal 1 card (sharing information) Then deal 7 cards to the 1st player, and 6 cards to the 2nd player. On your turn, you decide to (a) Exchange information or (b) Reveal the spy To exchange information: choose a card from your hand to give to the opponent then provide information that relates to the given card The given information can be in 1 of 3 formats below The given card belongs to a pair/trio/quartet of the same color The given card belongs to a pair/trio/quartet of the same number The given card belongs to a 3/4/5/6/7 in a row The information must be True and Sufficient (meaning it is the full information) The information includes every card in the player's hand and in front of them (which are given by the opponent) On your turn, if you cannot or don't want to exchange information you must Guess the Spy card by stating its number and color. if you guess correctly, you receive 2 points. If incorrectly, the opponent receives 1 point. Whoever has 3 points first wins the game.
Counter Spy supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Counter Spy is 10–20 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 Counter Spy 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.
Counter Spy 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.
Counter Spy belongs to these categories: Card Game, Deduction, and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Deduction. 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 Counter Spy are: Toàn Nguyễn and Mẫn Trần. 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 Counter Spy 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.