Heimlich & Co. (1984)

While this game appears to be very simple, that isn't necessarily the case. The board is an oval movement track, with points allocated to the various spaces. Seven different colored 'spies' are placed on the board. When it's a player's turn, he rolls a die and then moves any combination of characters forward that number of spaces. The newly-moved spies then score points based on the their new location. However, the trick here is that each player's color isn't known until the end of the game, so players are encouraged to deduce which color belongs to whom. In addition, there are some advanced rules which allow players to score more points at the end of the game for correctly guessing everyone's identity. Heimlich is a German adjective meaning secretly and slyly. So Heimlich & Co translates as Clandestine and Company!

It is said that this is the first game to use a victory point track going around the board (known among German gamers as a Kramerleiste). (See westpark-gamers.de interview.)

Magazine References:

Fire & Movement Article Index:

• Number 128, Winter 2002
  • Heimlich & Co. - "Top Secret Spies" (Analysis), Jean Jodoin

Awards

• 2002 Schweizer Spielepreis Family Game Winner.
• 1986 Spiel des Jahres Winner.
• 1985-1986 Der Goldene Pöppel Winner.
• 1985 Spiel des Jahres Recommendation.

Contents:

1 playing board
7 secret agents
7 point counters
7 agent identification cards
1 secret file
1 die
1 game rules