Play Guess the Spy Online
A party game about questions, bluffing, and one hidden spy. Can the group expose them — or will the spy name the location first?
How do you play Guess the Spy online?
Everyone in the room gets the same secret location and a role in it, except one player who only knows they are the spy. You take turns asking each other questions until the group calls a vote – or the spy names the location and takes 500 points. Three to ten players, free, in the browser.
What is Guess the Spy?
At the start of each round, each player receives a secret location and a specific role within it — except the spy, who only knows they are the spy and must try to figure out where everyone is.
The group asks each other questions to find the odd one out. The spy can blend in and survive the vote — or take a risk and guess the location for a big points bonus.
How to play
- 1Create a lobbyStart a room and invite your group with a code or link.
- 2Get your roleEach player sees the location and their role. The spy only sees that they are the spy.
- 3Ask smart questionsTake turns asking questions. Regulars try to expose the spy; the spy tries to blend in.
- 4Vote or guessThe host can call a vote during the questions. The spy can also guess the location early — correct guess wins 500 pts, wrong guess ends the round.
Guess the Spy rules
- 1Players take turns typing a question to someone else; answers join the round's log.
- 2Voting opens when the host says so, after twice as many answers as players, or at the first answer or skip after five minutes.
- 3Once every player still in the game has voted, or the 60 seconds run out (a missing vote counts for nobody), a single leader is voted out; a tie votes out nobody. The results name the spy either way.
- 4While the questions run, the spy may guess among all 24 places; right or wrong, the round ends.
Guess the Spy scoring
When the table votes
Votes also score alone.
- Spy not voted out+300
To the spy, ties included.
- Spy voted out+100
To every other player.
- Vote on the spy+50
To that voter.
- Vote on anyone else−10
To that voter; the spy's own vote always.
When the spy guesses
Nobody votes that round.
- Right location+500
To the spy.
- Wrong location+100
To every other player.
Modes and settings
- Table size
3 to 8 seats on the create form, 6 by default, up to 10 before the start.
- Fixed rounds and clocks
Three rounds and a five-minute question clock; the vote closes after 60 seconds, or sooner once everyone has voted.
Guess the Spy strategy
- 1.Strike places off
As the spy, cross out every place an answer rules out.
- 2.Count the answers
With five players, guess before the tenth answer opens the vote.
- 3.Weigh 500 against 300
Surviving pays 300; guess only when one place fits every answer.
- 4.A tie is enough
A tied vote also pays the spy, so split the doubt.
- 5.Answer in role
Answer as your job there, never naming the place.
- 6.Ask the unasked
A spy hides best in a seat nobody questions.
- 7.Your vote scores alone
A vote on the spy pays 50, whoever the table picks.
- 8.Host: time the vote
Ending early blocks the spy's guess but leaves fewer answers.
Common mistakes
- Naming the place
Mention a runway and the spy guesses the airport.
- Splitting the vote
A tied top votes out nobody and pays the spy 300.
- Guessing on a hunch
A wrong guess pays every other player 100.
Playing together online
- One room, every screen
Share the code or link; every screen updates live.
- People, never bots
No solo mode or bots; share the invite or join an open room.
- Secrets stay private
Only your browser gets your role.
- A name and a browser
Guests type a name and play; nothing to install.
Why play Guess the Spy on Boardly?
- Easy to start with a shared room link.
- Great for groups, parties, and quick breaks.
- Works from any modern browser.
- Free to play as a guest.
Who it suits
Groups of three to ten who like reading people: parties, classrooms, video calls.
Where Guess the Spy comes from
Spyfall by Alexandr Ushan (2014) made the spy-without-a-location format a party staple.
Questions about Guess the Spy on Boardly
- Is Guess the Spy on Boardly free?
- Yes, for everyone, guests included. Only letting spectators in (the host), replays (the viewer) and premium lobby themes need Premium.
- Does Guess the Spy work on a phone?
- Yes, in the mobile browser: round, players and chat sit on separate tabs in portrait.
- Can other players see who the spy is?
- Not before the results: until then no browser receives the spy's name, and each role goes only to its holder.
- Are the questions typed or spoken?
- Typed. The asker picks a player and types a question, and the typed answer is logged.
- Who can start the vote?
- Only the host; otherwise it opens after twice as many answers as players, or at the first answer or skip after five minutes.
- Which locations can come up?
- Any of 24 places, from airport and casino to hospital and museum, named in English everywhere.
- How is the overall winner decided?
- By total points after three rounds; scores carry over, and a shared top total is a draw.
New to Guess the Spy? Read the rules and how to play.