
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,670
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
- 2–6 players
- 240–720 min
- Complexity 4.3/5
- 1974

1981
Rules assistance for Spies!
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.
Spies! is a board game released in 1981 for 2–5 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by John Prados and Lenny Glynn and its main mechanics are Take That, Point to Point Movement, and Pick-up and Deliver.
Spies is a game of espionage and intrigue for up to five players, set in the turbulent European era of 1933-1939. You control the secret service of one of the major powers of that era - Germany, Italy, Russia, France, and Britain - in the constant struggle to gather your opponents secrets and return them safely to your own capital while protecting your own country's secrets.
Spies! supports 2–5 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 Spies! is 180 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 Spies! 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.
Spies! has a complexity rating of 2.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Spies! belongs to these categories: Negotiation, World War II, and Spies / Secret Agents. Its main mechanics are Take That, Point to Point Movement, 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 Spies! are: John Prados and Lenny Glynn. 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 Spies! 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.