2 - 8 players (15 minute playtime)

Ma'am, we did it. The fragmented timeline, the order of events as nature had once dictated, has once again been restored.

Excellent work. Once again history is following the correct path.

There's just one problem, ma'am.

What?

Well... no one can remember if the binoculars were invented before the mechanical washing machine.

I see...

Well, ma'am?

What?

Do you know? The fate of history depends on it.

Uh....

Welcome to Timeline, a beautifully simple game that will have everyone scratching their heads and laughing at their friends who didn't pay attention in history class.

What's that you say? You know nothing about history, yourself? Never fear. This game punishes the arrogant and rewards the worthy (or lucky).

Timeline is a game for two to eight players. During the beginning of the game the players are dealt four cards each. The rest are put into the draw deck. The first player flips the top card of the draw deck, revealing it's date (the cards have two sides, each with the same picture - one side has a date, and this is the side the players reveal only once they've chosen a place for said card in the timeline). This is the first card in the timeline.

The next player then must choose one of his cards and guess whether it belongs before or after the event currently on the timeline. The player after her must then decide whether an event in their hand goes before or after the event that was just revealed. This is where Timeline gets sticky: as more cards are added, there are more places to place each subsequent card (in front of the timeline, behind, or between any two cards currently in the timeline).

If you miss a card, you draw a new card. First person to be out of cards wins.

Those are essentially the rules, folks. Easy to explain, even to the most diehard un-fun non-boardgame playing person. You can introduce this to your kids. You can play this at a family gathering. It even makes a decent drinking game (drink when you get it wrong and/or make someone drink when you get one right). The game is just so damn versatile.

Buy If:

1.) You want your board game collection to be more versatile. There's nothing more frustrating that having a group of people over, and someone has to sit the game out because it doesn't accommodate enough people.

2.) You know someone studying history or who considers themselves a history buff who just won't stop talking smack. This game might humble them thoroughly. Of course, it could prove them right, too. But then they'll love it, so who cares?

Don't Buy If:

1.) ...There just isn't a really good reason not to buy this game. I suppose if the history theme really turns you off. Of course, I'll address that in the conclusion.

Conclusion:

Get this game. For around 15 bucks usd for the base game, you're taking very little risk for a ton of fun in a tiny box. The history /educational theme might turn some of you off, but trust me when I say to give it a try anyway. I've had others make similar complaints.... until they play the game. The social aspect, as you all ponder over each others cards and your own is not to be underestimated.

Follow: @jenkinrocket

And as always, proceeds from these posts go towards more board games!