Operation Barclay
🐸 Dettagli da BoardGameGeek
Game info
Design & Art
Lingua & Editore
⚠️ Avvertenze
Pairs well with
Operation Barclay – Deception and Spies in the Heart of the Mediterranean
In Operation Barclay, you'll step into the shoes of military intelligence directors in 1942-43, in the midst of World War II. A two-player wargame of bluffing, deduction, and well-timed card plays, where the German Abwehr tries to uncover the Allies' true invasion plans and the London Controlling Section (LCS) does everything it can to throw them off course.
Each game unfolds over six months of gameplay, with the Abwehr player attempting to gather enough evidence to reveal the landing locations, while the LCS player plants false clues to confuse their opponent. The core of the system is strategic poker, where it's not just about having the best hand, but also knowing how to bet on other players' moves and using special abilities inspired by historical figures and events.
Why Operation Barclay is different from other wargames
- 🃏 Military Poker : Build winning hands and bet on the outcome to gain valuable evidence.
- 🎭 Bluff and counterbluff : every move can be a calculated diversion.
- 🕵️ Historical Espionage : Ultra, double-crossing, and real-life figures enrich the gameplay.
- ⚖️ Asymmetric tension : different objectives for the two sides.
- 🌍 Realistic scenario : the intelligence war in the Mediterranean in 1943.
Operation Barclay isn't your typical war game about armies and maps: here, the real battle is fought with lies, risky choices, and brilliant intuitions . Every hand is a psychological challenge, and only those who can read between the lines can change the course of the war.
Your weapon is not a gun, but your ability to bluff: are you ready to deceive or be deceived?
Operation Barclay
Product Details
🐸 HOW TO PLAY
The secret war behind the war.
Operation Barclay is a two-player board game that takes you to the heart of the intelligence battle between the Allies and the German Abwehr in the Mediterranean in 1942-1943. The battle isn't fought with weapons, but with deception, stolen information, and psychological strategies: every move can change the course of the 1943 invasion.
To deceive or discover the truth.
The Allied player takes on the role of the London Controlling Section (LCS) , the agency tasked with concealing the true invasion plans. The other player takes on the role of the Abwehr, whose sole objective is to determine where the Allies will strike. The game unfolds over six months, during which bluffing, deception, and deduction become crucial weapons.
A poker of spies and deception.
The heart of the game lies in building poker-style hands: having the best combination yields valuable evidence, but knowing how to bet on the outcome after the first few cards can hurt your opponent even more. Having the right cards isn't enough here; you need to read the other player's intentions and understand how much is real and how much is bluffing.
Unique story and abilities on the table.
Each faction can manipulate decks, set traps, and exploit abilities inspired by real characters and events. The LCS has access to the famous Ultra decryptions, but if used wisely, they risk being wasted. The Abwehr, on the other hand, can exploit suspicions, misdirections, and intuition to turn the tide at just the right moment.
Operation Barclay isn't just a card game: it's a duel of nerves.
A title that combines history, tension and strategy, transforming intelligence warfare into an intense and surprising tabletop experience.
🃏 SACHETS
80x120mm - Quantity 87
The sleeve sizes listed are based on data from BoardGameGeek.com (BGG), the global board game community.
🐸 We at FroGames strive to provide useful information, but we cannot guarantee the complete accuracy of the data reported.
We always encourage you to check them based on the edition and specific content of the game. 💬
✨ If you have any further questions, please contact us: we'll be happy to help!
REGULATION ENG
Download the Regulations Here
Operation Barclay
Truth is a weapon. And doubt is its best shot.
A duel for 2 players involving bluffing, espionage and fake clues
Operation Barclay – The Shadow War in the Mediterranean
A smoky room, the smell of paper and ink, telephones ringing, a radio whirring. On the table, the Mediterranean Sea of 1943. Are you the LCS sowing false leads... or the Abwehr sniffing out the truth? Every piece of paper you put down is a whisper: does it confuse or clarify? Your hands tremble over the file, the air smells of metal and cold coffee. Whoever makes the other doubt at the right moment wins.
A game of psychological espionage and well-balanced cards (no armies, just mind and lies)
Operation Barclay is a two-player board game of bluffing and deduction set during World War II . It's asymmetrical: the LCS prepares a variable setup with secret objectives, while the Abwehr must gather evidence to uncover them. Five-card hands function like tactical poker : build your hand, bet on the outcome, manipulate decks (double-cross deck), and strike when your opponent lets their guard down.
It's one of those elegant and tense imported board games , where reading the other player's hand, managing the hand, and timing count. Less tanks, more psychology.
We played it… with low lights and maps on the table 🐸
Silence. Eyes locked. Card face down. The right hand feels like an interrogation gone well; the wrong bet stings more than a defeat on the pitch. We liked him because he's dry, intelligent, and nervous : you bring him out when you want a duel that's won in your head before it's won on the table .
Other imported board games you'll love :
📖 Winston: Nineteen Eighty-Four – A Solitary Narrative in the Style of Orwell
🎖️ Onoda – Resistance and Extreme Choices in the Jungle
👗 The Battle of Versailles – Fashion, prestige and two-way low blows
Katmai: The Bears of Brooks River – Bear and Salmon Area Check
🧪 Potions of Azerland – Alchemy, Market, and Simultaneous Choices
🌋 Oros – Moving plates, erupting volcanoes
🦙 Llama Llama – Secret Draft and Sparkling Deduction
Flock Together – An Avian Cooperative Outside the Box
⚔️ Iliad – Heroes and myths in epic battles
I giochi da tavolo non servono a passare il tempo. Servono a viverlo meglio. – La Rana Saggia
Ogni regola è un’opportunità nascosta. Scoprila con occhi nuovi. – Il Girino Curioso
Non so come ho vinto. Ma è stato divertentissimo. Rigioca, se hai il coraggio. – La Ranarock Ribelle
Una buona mossa è silenziosa. La vittoria, inevitabile. – Ranaldo Stratega
Non serve vincere per giocare bene. Serve giocare per stare bene. – Zio Rospo Zen
I giochi da tavolo non servono a passare il tempo. Servono a viverlo meglio. – La Rana Saggia
Ogni regola è un’opportunità nascosta. Scoprila con occhi nuovi. – Il Girino Curioso
Non so come ho vinto. Ma è stato divertentissimo. Rigioca, se hai il coraggio. – La Ranarock Ribelle
Una buona mossa è silenziosa. La vittoria, inevitabile. – Ranaldo Stratega
Non serve vincere per giocare bene. Serve giocare per stare bene. – Zio Rospo Zen
FAQs
Read our FAQs page to learn more!
📸 Do the game images on the website exactly match the product I will receive?
The images on our site are often taken from BoardGameGeek (BGG) , the world's largest board game community. These photos are intended to give you an idea of the game, but may differ slightly from the version you receive, especially in the case of localized editions, reprints, or manufacturer updates.
The actual contents of the box always adhere to the specifications provided by the official publisher. If you have any questions or would like further details, please don't hesitate to contact us: we're passionate about board games and happy to help you choose the perfect game for you!
📦 Does the indicated contents correspond exactly to what I will find in the box?
We always indicate the contents of the box on the product sheet, but there may be small variations due to reprints, updated editions, or last-minute editorial changes.
💬 The information we report comes directly from the publishers and official distributors, but if uncommunicated changes occur, there may be discrepancies.
🎯 Our goal is to always provide you with an accurate and transparent description, but the actual contents of the box you receive always prevail .
Have questions or need confirmation on a detail? Talk to us! We're here to help you choose with confidence 🎲🧡
⏳ How do pre-orders work on FroGames?
Pre-orders allow you to reserve an upcoming game before it officially hits the market.
As soon as it arrives from the distributor, we'll ship it right to your home! 🚚✨💳
Payment is processed immediately upon ordering, so the game is reserved for you and no one else can steal it from you.
Sometimes distributors may notify us of delays or last-minute date changes: in these cases, we will update you promptly.
You deserve clarity and respect.
At FroGames, every order is a promise we cherish... even if the game is still on its way! 🧡🎁
If your pre-ordered game doesn't meet the free shipping threshold, no problem: just choose "Pick up in store" at checkout.
We'll contact you before shipping: you can decide whether to add more games to get free shipping, or just pay the shipping cost for the pre-ordered game. 🎯
🔒 Can I trust purchasing from FroGames?
Absolutely! FroGames is a project created with passion and care by true board game enthusiasts.
We are an Italian business, with a real headquarters, VAT number and a customer service that really responds 😊
📦 All games are new, original and sealed , shipped via tracked courier in 24/48 hours.
📬 You'll receive email updates, and we're always available to answer any questions you may have, before and after your purchase.
With us, you're not just an order number: you're a player, a collector, a dreamer. And we want to treat you as you deserve. 🧡🎲
🛠 What happens if there's a problem with my order?
We do our best to make every order perfect, but if something goes wrong—a damaged package, a missing game, or any other unexpected issue— don't worry: we're here for you!
💬 Write to us now and let's solve the problem together: we are people, not an automated call center.
📦 We can replace, refund, or find a suitable solution. The important thing is that you're satisfied.
For us it doesn't end with "thank you for the order" , but with "see you soon"