Space Cowboys Splendor Duel: The Counterfeiters Expansion Board Game

A New Threat at the Gem Market

Just when you thought you had your rival figured out, someone starts flooding the market with fakes. The Counterfeiters expansion for Splendor Duel introduces a cunning new layer of deception and disruption to the award-winning two-player gem trading game — and it changes the way every turn feels. Do you press your strategy forward, or do you dedicate precious actions to rooting out the forgeries before they cost you everything?

What This Expansion Adds

Splendor Duel is Space Cowboys' acclaimed two-player spin-off of the classic Splendor — a fast, tense game of collecting gem tokens and securing the patronage of Renaissance-era nobility. Where the original Splendor is built on elegant simplicity, Duel sharpens that into a knife-edge duel of reads, bluffs, and timing. The Counterfeiters expansion leans into that tension by introducing forged gems and the mechanics of detection and sabotage. Your opponent's carefully assembled collection might not be as solid as it looks — and neither is yours.

This is a targeted, focused expansion designed to add meaningful strategic depth without bloating the experience. It respects what makes Splendor Duel work and adds one precise wrinkle that opens up new decisions without lengthening play time significantly.

Who It's For

If you already own and love Splendor Duel, this expansion is the natural next step. It's ideal for players who have mastered the base game and are hungry for more strategic texture in their two-player sessions. The added complexity remains approachable — this isn't a heavy overhaul, it's a sharp new tool in a game that rewards sharp thinking. Best for adults and teens comfortable with the base game, and those who enjoy competitive games with a bit of misdirection baked in.

Worth Noting

Space Cowboys consistently delivers strong component quality, and this expansion maintains that standard. As a Splendor Duel expansion, it requires the base game to play and integrates cleanly with existing components. If Splendor Duel is already a regular at your game table, The Counterfeiters gives it new life without asking you to relearn anything from scratch.