Last Updated on July 30, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Simply Suspects is a deduction and strategy game where every player hides behind a secret identity while trying to shift suspicion onto others. As you move around the board, you’ll manipulate evidence, collect Get-Away Cards, and attempt to stay one step ahead of your opponents. Be careful—too much evidence in your colored row, and the Grand Jury could expose you. Outwit the others and be the last suspect standing to win.

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How to Play Simply Suspects

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A Game of Secrets, Suspicion, and Betrayal

Game Components

• Game Board
• Evidence Board
• 6 Colored Player Tokens
• 7 Evidence Pegs
• Get-Away Cards Deck
• 6 Secret Suspect Cards
• 1 Die

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Setup

1. Unfold the game board and place it on a flat surface.
2. Each player chooses a token and places it on the start triangle.
3. Place the Evidence Board in the center of the game area.
4. Insert the 7 evidence pegs into the starting holes at the top of the Evidence Board (columns 1–7).
5. Shuffle and deal 3 Get-Away Cards to each player face-up. Everyone can see these.
6. Shuffle and deal 1 Suspect Card face-down to each player. Keep your identity secret. Any leftover Suspect Cards remain face-down and unused.
7. Place the Get-Away Card deck face-down near the board.

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Objective

Keep suspicion away from yourself while steering evidence toward your opponents.

If a player lands on the Grand Jury space while their secret suspect has 2 or more evidence pegs in their colored row, they are eliminated.

The last player remaining in the game wins.

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Game Play

1. All players roll the die. The highest roller goes first. Play proceeds clockwise.
2. On your turn, you may either:
   • Roll the die and move forward that many spaces, or
   • Play a Get-Away Card to move the number on the card (instead of rolling).
     • A “0” card lets you activate the space you’re currently on without moving.
     • You may not use a Get-Away Card after rolling the die.
3. When reaching a fork in the path, you can choose which direction to go.

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Space Descriptions

Get-Away Card

Draw one card from the deck and add it to your hand face-up. You can use this card on a future turn instead of rolling.

Take a Get-Away Card from Any Player

Steal one face-up Get-Away Card from another player. If no one has any cards, nothing happens.

Your Choice

Move any evidence peg from the starting area into any suspect’s colored row.
If all pegs are already on the board, move one peg from one suspect’s row into another suspect’s row.
Evidence must stay in the same numbered column.

Numbered Evidence (1–7)

Move the evidence peg from the numbered column that matches the space you landed on.
For example, if you land on “#1,” you must move the peg in column 1.
Only one peg is allowed per column at any time.

Photo of Suspects

Move up to two evidence pegs from the suspect row you landed on to any other suspect’s row(s).
You can split the pegs between rows, but all movement must stay within their original columns.
If fewer than two pegs are available, move what you can.

Trade Places with Any Player

Swap places with another player. Then immediately take the action shown on your new space.
If you land on this space and trade with someone else already on it, your turn ends.

Move Any Opponent Forward One Space

Choose an opponent and move them forward one space. They must take the action on their new space.

Move Any Opponent Back One Space

Choose an opponent and move them back one space. They must take the action on their new space.

Move Forward 2, 3, or 6 Spaces

Advance directly to the Grand Jury space.

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Grand Jury

Try to avoid this space unless you’re ready to accuse another player.

When you land on Grand Jury:

• If your secret suspect has 2 or more evidence pegs in their colored row, you are eliminated.
  Reveal your suspect card. You’re out of the game.
• If you are not eliminated, you may guess another player’s identity.

Guessing a Player’s Identity

• Choose a player and state their identity.
  • If correct: The guessed player is eliminated, and you collect all their Get-Away Cards. You may continue guessing other players, one at a time, until you make a wrong guess.
  • If incorrect: You are eliminated, and the player you guessed incorrectly takes your Get-Away Cards.
• All eliminated suspect cards remain face-up and visible for the rest of the game.

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Additional Rules

• Only one evidence peg per column is allowed on the Evidence Board.
• Any number of pegs may exist in a single suspect’s colored row.
• Players must perform the action of the space they land on—whether they arrive there by rolling, card use, or being moved by another player.

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Winning the Game

The last player remaining after all others are eliminated wins the game.

Simply Suspects blends bluffing, tactical movement, and hidden roles into a fast-paced game of shifting alliances and sudden betrayals. Every move counts, and a single wrong guess can cost you the game. Keep your identity secret, manipulate the evidence board to your advantage, and watch your opponents closely—because in the end, only one suspect gets away clean.