- BGG rank
- BGG #26,830
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Project KGB: The Double Agent
- 4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1973
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,676
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Project CIA: The Secret Formula
1973
Rules assistance for Project CIA: The Secret Formula
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Project CIA: The Secret Formula
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Project CIA: The Secret Formula is a board game released in 1973 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Earl Doherty and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Pick-up and Deliver.
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About the game
Game 1 of 2 in a series called "Spy Training Games" and issued in 1973 by House of Games Corporation Limited (Bramalea, Ontario, Canada) Game 1 is "Project CIA: The Secret Formula". Game 2 is "Project KGB: The double agent". The two board games are distinct, different, and have different rules. The two board games can be united together and played following the instructions as "The Deluxe Game" or "Super KGB". In "Project CIA: the secret formula", 17 envelopes are scattered in designated spots on the board game. One of the 17 envelopes has the secret formula. By rolling the dice, players move around the board game and as they pass over the positions where the envelopes are, they pick up the tile and see if it has the secret formula printed on the bottom of the tile. The winner of the game is the one that exits the board game from one of its four entrance/exit gates. There is a clear moving piece representing a security guard that moves around from one room to another room. If a player finds himself inside a room with the security guard, he/she has one turn to exit the room.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Waddingtons
Questions and answers
Project CIA: The Secret Formula 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 Project CIA: The Secret Formula is 60 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 Project CIA: The Secret Formula 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.
Project CIA: The Secret Formula has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Project CIA: The Secret Formula belongs to these categories: Spies / Secret Agents. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Pick-up and Deliver. 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 Project CIA: The Secret Formula are: Earl Doherty. 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 Project CIA: The Secret Formula 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.