
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,896
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Hunt the Ravager
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2021

1972
Rules assistance for Decipher
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.
Decipher is a board game released in 1972 for 2 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Secret Unit Deployment, and Pattern Recognition.
Set up a 5-letter-word and try to guess the opponents. The mechanic is to ask the other person which letter is on the nth position of his alphabet - the missing letters are omit and so the transition tells you the alphabet.
Decipher 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 Decipher is 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 Decipher 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.
Decipher belongs to these categories: Word Game and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Secret Unit Deployment, and Pattern Recognition. 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 catalogue lists Decipher 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.