Decrypto

DecryptoDecrypto is a team game of safe communications set in a world of dials, monitors, transmitters and other 1960's James Bond style spy paraphernalia. In this game, designed by Thomas Dagenais Lesprance and published by Le Scorpion Masqu, you will take on the mission of transmitting secret codes to your team of Encryptors without letting the opposing team intercept them. You will also be attempting to intercept the opposing teams codes. The key to this

Decrypto is a team game of “safe” communications set in a world of dials, monitors, transmitters and other 1960's James Bond-style spy paraphernalia. In this game, designed by Thomas Dagenais-Lespérance and published by Le Scorpion Masqué, you will take on the mission of transmitting secret codes to your team of Encryptors without letting the opposing team intercept them. You will also be attempting to intercept the opposing team’s codes.

The key to this game is you will need to make sure your communications are clear enough for your team to understand but vague enough to confound your opponents!

To set-up, the two teams must position themselves on opposite sides of a table and put four keyword cards in the slots on their screen board – once they’re behind the red screen the scrambled patterns on the cards will miraculously display a word. All team members can see their team’s words but the opposition must not.

One player from each team will be nominated as their team’s Encryptor for the round and secretly takes one of their code cards at random – this will show a three digit number, for example “2,1,4”, and the Encryptor will have to give clues in order, relating to the words behind screen two, screen one and then screen four. The clue can be a single word or a whole phrase. The teammates must then attempt to guess the three digit number and proceed to write it onto their team’s notepad alongside each of the given clues. The opposition team then does the same.

The teams have the opportunity to guess the opposition’s code number in the following rounds based on the clues they hear. If they successfully do so they get an interception token. The first team to get two interception tokens wins – however, clues must be carefully thought-out because the first team to guess their own codes incorrectly twice loses the game.

This small margin for error means that you’ll need to give clues to that ensure your teammates will get the right answer but without giving away too much to your opponents because each round they will be adding to their collection of clues and getting closer and closer to working out what your words are, making it progressively easier for them to guess your code numbers – unless you have completely confused them – this increasing tension is the key to the game and leads to both agonising decisions and laugh-out-loud moments in equal measure.

Comparable to the smash-hit Codenames, but different enough in its own right, this game is ideal for family get-togethers, for a night down the pub with friends or as a bit of light relief at the beginning or end of a games night – don’t let Decrypto go under your radar!

Player Count: 3-8
Time: 15-45 Minutes
Age: 12+