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- BGG rating
- 6.7
Scrooge: The Board Game
- 2–6 players
- 15–90 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2017
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Simply Suspects
2003
Rules assistance for Simply Suspects
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 15 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Simply Suspects
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Simply Suspects is a board game released in 2003 for 2–6 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by William Stephenson and its main mechanics are Player Elimination and Roll / Spin and Move.
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About the game
In society, whenever a crime has been committed, no matter how small, there is always evidence left behind. The evidence usually points to certain suspects. In this game, the players are all "simply suspects." What is unusual is that the suspects each have the opportunity to tamper with the evidence so that it points to other suspects. If the evidence points to you when you meet the Grand Jury, you are eliminated from the game. While moving the evidence around, players must also try to hide their own identity - so other players don’t figure out which suspect they are. If a player discovers another player’s identity, they may point the finger at that player and eliminate them from the game. Simply Suspects is a fast-action game of suspicion and finger pointing. Much like Spy Alley, Simply Suspects is deceptively simple yet surprisingly intense. The advantage that one player may appear to have can change with a single move. You are never sure which suspect will escape the Grand Jury and win the game.
Designers
Publishers
- N.W. Damm & Søn (Damm)
- Spy Alley Partners LLP
Questions and answers
Simply Suspects supports 2–6 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 Simply Suspects is 15 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 Simply Suspects 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.
Simply Suspects has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Simply Suspects belongs to these categories: Deduction and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination and Roll / Spin and Move. 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 Simply Suspects are: William Stephenson. 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 Simply Suspects 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.