- BGG rank
- BGG #12,207
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Starlink
- 3–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,787
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Secret Squad
2021
Rules assistance for Secret Squad
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–10 players
- 15–30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.0/5
Rules assistant for Secret Squad
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Secret Squad is a board game released in 2021 for 3–10 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Arno Steinwender and Markus Slawitscheck and its main mechanics are Deduction and Hidden Roles.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,395
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Top Secret
- 3–10 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,173
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Magic Keys
- 2–4 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,009
- BGG rating
- 7.0
One Word Away
- 2–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,896
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Hot & Cold
- 3–8 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #967
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Challengers!
- 1–8 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,465
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Challengers! Beach Cup
- 1–8 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,552
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Noobs in Space
- 3–5 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,223
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Morty Sorty Magic Shop
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,422
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Noobs über Bord
- 3–5 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #298
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
- 4–12 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,708
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Ghost Letters
- 2–12 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2020
About the game
In each of the three rounds of Secret Squad, all players are secretly assigned a color squad, either red or yellow. To start the round, a card is revealed that has a yes/no question in red and a different yes/no question in yellow. All players answer "yes" or "no" to the question corresponding to their secret color by placing a token on the "Yup" or "Nope" end of the card. Two other cards are then revealed, with players answering them in the same way. Using these clues, you want to identify someone — anyone! — who's on your squad. Everyone raises a finger, and on the count of three, you point at someone who seems like a good fit. (In a three-player game, you might be alone, and if you think you are, you point at yourself.) Everyone then reveals their squad affiliation, and if you guessed correctly, you score points; you also score if someone correctly identified you as being part of their squad. You then reshuffle the squad cards and play another round. Whoever has the most points after three rounds wins. This is an English-language update of the German game #no secrets.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Gamewright
Questions and answers
Secret Squad supports 3–10 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 Secret Squad is 15–30 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 Secret Squad for ages 12 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.
Secret Squad has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Secret Squad belongs to these categories: Party Game and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Deduction and Hidden Roles. 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 Secret Squad are: Arno Steinwender and Markus Slawitscheck. 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 Secret Squad 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.