- BGG rank
- BGG #4,574
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Scorpius Freighter
- 2–4 players
- 45–75 min
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- 2018
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- 5.9
Cypher
2014
Rules assistance for Cypher
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 10–25 min
- 14+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Cypher
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cypher is a board game released in 2014 for 2–4 players, 10–25 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by David Short and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Open Drafting.
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About the game
Faced with constant hacker attacks, the corporations created an artificial intelligence that could learn from the hackers themselves. The AI, codenamed Cypher, evolved faster than its creators could have imagined. It gained sentience, went rogue, and became the ultimate hacker. Now Cypher is fighting the corporations themselves for control of the nexus. In Cypher, players take on the role of factions that are gathering characters from all spheres of influence — from corporate overseers to street level hackers — in order to dominate Cypher and seize control of the nexus. The player with the most influence at the end of the game wins!
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Alderac Entertainment Group
Questions and answers
Cypher 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 Cypher is 10–25 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 Cypher for ages 14 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.
Cypher 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.
Cypher belongs to these categories: Card Game and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Open Drafting. 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 Cypher are: David Short. 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 Cypher 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.