- BGG rank
- BGG #18,576
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Star Trek Game
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1979
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,217
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Spy vs Spy
1986
Rules assistance for Spy vs Spy
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 90 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Spy vs Spy
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Spy vs Spy is a board game released in 1986 for 2–4 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Michael Gray and its main mechanics are Tile Placement and Pick-up and Deliver.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,479
- BGG rating
- 6.1
The Lord of the Rings Adventure Game
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1978
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,382
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Ikusa
- 2–5 players
- 240–360 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 1986
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,739
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Fortress America
- 2–4 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 1986
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,326
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Fortress America
- 2–4 players
- 150 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,087
- BGG rating
- 6.5
The Omega Virus
- 1–4 players
- 10–35 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1992
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,492
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Electronic Mall Madness
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1989
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,952
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Fantasy Forest
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1982
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,147
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Electronic Dream Phone
- 1–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1991
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,819
- BGG rating
- 5.2
Doubletrack
- 3–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1981
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,094
- BGG rating
- 6.8
P'achakuna
- 2 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,722
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Off the Rails
- 1–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2018
About the game
The object of the game is to build tunnels to bombs and bring them back to your home base. The bombs have various effects hidden on their base. The tunnels are built through tile laying, so each player (best played with four) digs furiously from his manhole in the corner towards the bombs, hoping to reach 'em first. If you connect tunnels, then you'll be able to try to steal another player's bomb before he brings it home. The basic turn goes like this: First, you move your pawn to another tunnel tile. Second, if you ended up or started on a bomb, test (with a special die) to see if it blows up. Third, draw a tunnel tile (you have a hand of four) and play one. Finally, if you get a bomb home safely, read its message. In addition to the tunnel tiles, there are white, black and grey spy tiles. They are used to block tunnel tiles (each tunnel tile has a little black or white spy drawn in its middle, so you can play a White Spy only on black tunnel tiles and vice-versa; the Grey Spy can be played on either). Spy vs Spy is not be to be confused with Spion & Spion, an entirely different game by the same publisher and credited to Alex Randolph .
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Milton Bradley
- MB Spiele
Questions and answers
Spy vs Spy 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 Spy vs Spy is 90 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 Spy vs Spy 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.
Spy vs Spy 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.
Spy vs Spy belongs to these categories: Fighting, Comic Book / Strip, and Maze. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement 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 Spy vs Spy are: Michael Gray. 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 Spy vs Spy 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.