Timebomb (2016) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Timebomb is a party game designed by Yusuke Sato and published by Arclight Games in in 2016. It falls under the categories of bluffing, card game, party game, and spies/secret agents. With hidden roles, role playing, team-based gameplay, and a traitor element, Timebomb offers a unique and engaging experience for 4 to 8 players.

Game Components of Timebomb

Role cards: Determine if a player is a SWAT officer or a terrorist.

Wire cards: Include SUCCESS cards, threat cards of different colors, and in the original version, blank cards and a bomb card.

Wire Cutter token or card: Used to cut wires and reveal cards.

Round markers: Optional markers to track the game rounds.

How To Setup Timebomb

To set up Timebomb, players are first secretly assigned their roles using the role cards. Each player is then dealt a set of wire cards, which they place face-down in front of them. The wire cutter token or card is given to one player to start the game. Players can discuss whose card should be revealed, but terrorists may mislead the SWAT officers.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Roles:
– SWAT officers: Win together if they deactivate the time bomb by revealing all SUCCESS cards.
– Terrorists: Win together if four threats of the same color are revealed.

Card Types:
– SUCCESS cards: Bring SWAT officers closer to victory.
– Threat cards: Activated based on their color, leading to different effects.
– In the original version: Blank cards and a single bomb card.

Gameplay:
– Each turn, a player uses the wire cutter to reveal a card from another player.
– Discussions are allowed to decide which card to reveal.

Game Objective:
– SWAT officers aim to reveal all SUCCESS cards.
– Terrorists aim to reveal four threats of the same color or stall the game until the fourth round.

Player Experience

Playing Timebomb involves a mix of social deduction, bluffing, and strategic thinking. Players must navigate the social dynamics of the game, trying to identify allies and enemies while making strategic decisions about which cards to reveal. The game is intense, with each reveal potentially changing the outcome significantly. In Time Bomb Evolution, the absence of blank cards and the single bomb card adds more complexity and variables to lie about, enhancing the social and mechanical layers of the game.

Pros

Improved Mechanics: Time Bomb Evolution fixes issues from the original game, such as the presence of blank cards and the single bomb card.

Social Interaction: Encourages discussion and bluffing among players.

Tactical Depth: Players need to maneuver around social and mechanical challenges.

Intuitive: Easy to learn for new players without relying on technology or gimmicks.

Cons

Luck Factor: The original version had a significant luck factor, with the game potentially ending early due to the single bomb card.

Limited Variables: In the original game, there were fewer variables to lie about, making the game less engaging.

Personal Thoughts on Timebomb

Timebomb, particularly Time Bomb Evolution, is ideal for those who enjoy social deduction and bluffing games. It offers a unique blend of social interaction and strategic thinking, making it a great choice for groups looking for a light yet engaging game. While it may not be as complex as some other social deduction games, its simplicity and intuitive mechanics make it accessible to a wide range of players. However, it might not be the best fit for those seeking deeply complex or long-form games.

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