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Agent Avenue – Quick Guide for Beginners

 

Redesigned, perfectly fitting ABS insert for the Agent Avenue board game – clear storage of playing cards and game pieces.

Reading time: approx. 4 minutes

The goal of the game

In Agent Avenue, two spies compete to uncover each other's secret identities. This is achieved by recruiting and cleverly deploying agents from the neighborhood to overtake or catch up with the opponent's character.

Game setup

  • Number of players: 2 (with team variant for 3–4 players)
  • Age: 8 years and up
  • Playing time: 10–20 minutes
  • Components:
    • 1 double-sided game board
    • 38 agent cards
    • 15 Black Market cards (only in advanced mode)
    • 2 game pieces (meeples)
    • 2 Player Aid Cards

Preparation: (Easy game mode)

  1. Place the game board in the center of the table. The side for easy mode should be facing up (Agent).
  2. Each player chooses a color and places their game piece on the corresponding starting field.
  3. Shuffle the agent cards and deal 4 cards to each player. The remaining pile forms the draw pile.
  4. The player who last watched a spy movie starts the game.

Move

A play consists of three phases:

1. Play out

  • Discard two agent cards from your hand: one face up and one face down. The cards must have different names.
  • Optional: You can discard a card from your hand to draw a new one. This is only allowed a total of 4 times in the entire game.

2. Recruit

  • Your opponent chooses one of the two laid-out cards and places it face up in front of them.
  • You take the remaining card and place it face up in front of you.

Both players now move their game pieces according to the number of agent cards they have just recruited. Movement is determined by the symbols on the cards:

  • One agent = 1st symbol
  • Two agents = 2nd symbol
  • Three or more agents = 3rd symbol

If an agent is recruited multiple times, the corresponding symbols apply.

3. End of the train

  • Check if any of the following winning or losing conditions are met:
    • Your meeple reaches or overtakes your opponent's → You win.
    • You have recruited 3 codebreaker agents → You win.
    • You recruited 3 Daredevil Agents → You lose. (Special case with the Black Market map)
    • The agent deck is empty and your opponent has fewer than 2 cards in their hand → The game ends. The player whose meeple is closer to their opponent's wins.

Advanced game mode

Game setup

  1. Place the game board so that the black market spaces are in the corners (Agent).
  2. Shuffle the 15 black market cards and place them next to the game board as a draw pile.
  3. Place the top three cards face up next to the pile.

move

  1. If your game piece is on a black market space, choose one of the three face-up cards. Immediately replace the empty space with the top card from the draw pile.
  2. Instant Ability (Lightning Bolt Symbol): Use the ability immediately. Then place it on the discard pile.
  3. Permanent ability (figure eight lying down): Execute the ability and place the card face up in front of you. It remains active for the rest of the game.

Details about black market cards can be found in the full rulebook .

Strategy tips

  • Bluffing: Use the hidden card to give your opponent false information.
  • Agent diversity: Recruit different agents to react flexibly to the game situation.
  • Black Market Maps: In advanced mode, these maps offer additional tactical options. Use them wisely.
  • Avoid Daredevils: Recruit a maximum of two Daredevil agents — with three Daredevils you lose the game.
    Exception: The black market card "Pack Leader" allows a victory if you have exactly three Daredevils.

Further information

For detailed rules and variations, see the official Nerdlab rulebook: Agent Avenue – Rulebook (PDF)

Conclusion

Agent Avenue is a fast-paced and tactical game for two players that combines bluffing and strategic thinking . With simple rules and a playing time of 10 to 20 minutes, it's perfect for a quick game. The different agents and the option to customize the rules offer new challenges time and time again.

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