- BGG rank
- BGG #22,694
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Top Secret
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1985
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,185
- BGG rating
- 4.3
Spion & Spion
1987
Rules assistance for Spion & Spion
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.4/5
Rules assistant for Spion & Spion
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Spion & Spion is a board game released in 1987 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Alex Randolph and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Secret Unit Deployment, and Pick-up and Deliver.
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About the game
The goal of Spion & Spion — a retheme of Randolph's classic game Top Secret ( = rethemed a second time 1993 as In Teufels Küche) using Mad comic art from the Spy vs. Spy comic strip — is to break into the opposing embassy and steal the "BAZONG" (which is basically information in the form of a cello case) or collect 37 zillion dollars (37 coins) and buy one directly. To do so, you have three spy pawns in your color, which are numbered on the base from 1 to 3. (In the four-player game, which is kind of semi-cooperative, each teammate has his own spies.) You move on the game board only one space or draw a move card that lets you move 0-4 steps, gives you a benefit, or makes you lose the enemy's BAZONG should you possess it right now. The game goes back and forth until one side collects 37 coins or manages to steal the BAZONG from the other player/team and transport it to the home embassy. Spion & Spion is not be to be confused with Spy vs Spy, an entirely different game by the same publisher, published in the same year and using the same theme...
Designers
Publishers
- Milton Bradley
- MB Spiele
Questions and answers
Spion & Spion 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 Spion & Spion is 45 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 Spion & Spion for ages 10 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.
Spion & Spion 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.
Spion & Spion belongs to these categories: Humor, Comic Book / Strip, and Spies / Secret Agents. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Secret Unit Deployment, 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 Spion & Spion are: Alex Randolph. 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 Spion & Spion 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.