- BGG rating
- 8.5
Pocket Ops: The Hypnotist
- 2 players
- 20 min
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,381
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Pocket Ops
2017
Rules assistance for Pocket Ops
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Pocket Ops
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pocket Ops is a board game released in 2017 for 2 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Brandon Beran and its main mechanics are Pattern Building.
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About the game
Description from the publisher: Pocket Ops is a two-player game of deduction and area control. As rival spymasters, position your agents to outmaneuver your opponent and dominate the battlefield. Built on the Tic-Tac-Toe framework that everyone knows, players must stay one step ahead of their opponent. The battleground is as much in the minds of the Spymasters as it is on the board. Predict your opponent’s moves to prevent them from gaining ground, and when all hope seems lost, snatch victory away from your opponent with clever use of your elite agents: the Assassin, Sniper, Pusher, Grappler, or Hacker. If you are the first to capture both parts of the doomsday device, it’s game over for your opponent!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- GDM Games
- Geek Attitude Games
- Grand Gamers Guild
Questions and answers
Pocket Ops 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 Pocket Ops 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 Pocket Ops 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.
Pocket Ops has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
Pocket Ops belongs to these categories: Deduction, Abstract Strategy, and Spies / Secret Agents. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building. 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 Pocket Ops are: Brandon Beran. 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 Pocket Ops 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.