- BGG rating
- 6.6
Counterfeiters: Action Improvements
- 2–4 players
- 35 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,602
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Counterfeiters
2018
Rules assistance for Counterfeiters
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 35 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Counterfeiters
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Counterfeiters is a board game released in 2018 for 2–4 players, 35 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Olivier Bourgeois and its main mechanics are Worker Placement.
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About the game
In Counterfeiters, players take on the title role, printing fake bills and exchanging them for the real thing. The Godfather can help them avoid the police, but his protection comes at a cost. The game ends when the police complete their investigations into the counterfeiting industry, and the player with the most real (i.e., non-counterfeit) money wins! The game is situated in Miami, Florida and lets players compete to be the best counterfeiter. Players assume the role of anthropomorphic figures and while being protected by the godfather, they try not to pay him too much for the offered protection. Meanwhile, the police is investigating the counterfeiting industry, quickly making lower quality counterfeited money useless. Players each have three animal pawns and place them in turn order, immediately executing the associated action. Players can buy component cards on the black market, improving their opportunities for both printing fake money and processing it. Of course, players will exchange their fake money for real money and try to keep it away from the godfather by putting it away in an offshore account... —description from the publisher
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Quined Games
Questions and answers
Counterfeiters 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 Counterfeiters is 35 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 Counterfeiters for ages 13 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.
Counterfeiters has a complexity rating of 2.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Counterfeiters belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Mafia. Its main mechanics are Worker Placement. 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 Counterfeiters are: Olivier Bourgeois. 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 Counterfeiters 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.