Setup Guide

How to Setup Spyfall.ch

Master all the features and settings to create the perfect Spyfall experience for your group. From basic setup to advanced configurations, this guide covers everything you need to know.

Try It Yourself Learn Game Rules

Quick Setup Steps

Create Your Game

Start from the lobby and add your players

Click 'Add Player' to enter each participant's name
You can have 3-12 players total
Remove players by clicking the 'Remove' button next to their name
Player names help everyone stay organized during the game

Configure Spy Settings

Choose how many spies and detection settings

Set exact number of spies or use random mode
Enable 'Show Other Spies' for multiple spy collaboration
Use probability settings for advanced spy distribution
Consider group size when choosing spy count

Select Locations

Choose which locations will be in your game

Use built-in locations or create custom ones
Share location list with all players for fairness
Customize based on your group's preferences
Add locations that everyone will recognize

Start Playing

Launch the game and begin the fun!

Each player gets their role (spy or location + role)
Spies try to guess the location
Non-spies try to identify the spy
Use the in-game menu for location sharing during play

🕵️ Spy Configuration Options

Choose how many spies will be in your game. Each option creates different dynamics and strategies.

Fixed Number of Spies

Set an exact number of spies for predictable gameplay

Best for: Balanced games, new players, competitive play

Pro Tips:

1 spy works well for 3-6 players

2 spies recommended for 7-12 players

More spies = harder for non-spies to win

Random Amount of Spies

Let the game randomly decide how many spies to include

Best for: Unpredictable games, experienced groups

Pro Tips:

Adds surprise element to every game

Spies never know if they're alone

Creates interesting psychological dynamics

Custom Probability Settings

Set exact odds for different spy counts

Best for: Advanced players, specific group preferences

Pro Tips:

Set very low odds for 0 spies (5-10%)

Spies can play as ‘maybe there’s no spy’ strategy

Distribute remaining probability as desired

Creates unique meta-game dynamics

🎯 Advanced Strategy: The “Maybe No Spy” Setup

Set a very low probability (5-10%) for 0 spies in your custom settings. This creates a fascinating meta-game where spies can legitimately play the “maybe there’s no spy this round” angle, making their job easier while keeping non-spies guessing.

How it works:

Spies can act confused about location without being suspicious
Non-spies become uncertain about whether to hunt for spies
Creates unique psychological tension throughout the game

⚙️ Advanced Features

Show Other Spies

When enabled, spies can see who their fellow spies are

Benefits:

Allows spy collaboration and teamwork

More fun for spies in multi-spy games

Creates interesting spy alliances

Balances difficulty when outnumbered

When to Use:

Enable when you have 2+ spies and want collaborative gameplay

Location Sharing

Share the complete location list with all players

Benefits:

Levels playing field for new players

Prevents location knowledge advantages

Makes questioning more strategic

Reduces confusion about available locations

When to Use:

Always recommended for fair gameplay

Custom Locations

Create your own locations tailored to your group

Benefits:

Personalized gameplay experience

Inside jokes and shared references

Locations everyone in your group knows

Unlimited creative possibilities

When to Use:

Great for regular groups with shared experiences

📍 How to Share Locations During Play

Step-by-Step Location Sharing

Share the location list with all players to ensure fair gameplay

1. Open Game Menu

While in the game, click the menu button (usually three lines or dots)

2. Click Locations

Select “Locations” from the menu to see all possible locations

3. Share with Group

Use the share option to show the location list to all players

Why Share Locations?

Sharing locations eliminates the advantage experienced players have from knowing all possible locations. This makes the game fair for everyone and focuses on strategy rather than location knowledge.

🏆 Best Practices for Setup

Do These Things

Always share locations for fair gameplay
Start with 1 spy for new players, 2+ for experienced groups
Enable “Show Other Spies” for multi-spy games
Test different spy probability settings for variety
Create custom locations for your regular group

Avoid These Mistakes

Don’t use too many spies for small groups (overwhelms non-spies)
Avoid keeping location lists secret from new players
Don’t use custom locations that only some players know
Don’t stick to the same settings every game - experiment!
Avoid complex probability settings for first-time players

Ready to Setup Your Perfect Game?

Now that you know all the features, it’s time to put them into practice!

Start Setting Up Learn Strategies

Questions? Check out our complete strategy guides and tips!