Books of Time (2023) Board Game

Books of Time is a card game designed by Filip Głowacz and published by Board&Dice in in 2023. It is a strategic game that involves deck, bag, and pool building, hand management, open drafting, set collection, and can be played solo or with up to 4 players. The game is set in a time-traveling library where players compete to collect the most valuable books from different eras.

Game Components of Books of Time

Ring binders and pages: Each player has three books (red, green, and yellow) to which they add pages.

Resources: Pens, paper, and folders (which act as wild resources).

Objective tiles: Used for scoring and guiding player strategies.

Lectern and central chronicle: Central elements that add to the game’s visual appeal.

Trade, science, and industry pages: Different types of pages that provide various actions and combinations.

How To Setup Books of Time

Setting up the game involves each player receiving their three ring binders and starting resources. The central lectern is placed in the middle of the table, holding the central chronicle. Players begin by drafting pages to add to their books, and the objective tiles are set up to guide the scoring process.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Engine-building: Players build their books by adding pages, which provide resources and actions.

Set collection: Collecting specific sets of pages to meet scoring objectives.

Resource management: Managing pens, paper, and folders to add pages and climb progress tracks.

Track progression: Climbing three tracks to gain rewards, which costs resources.

Book activation: Activating books to claim benefits from the pages, which often involves flipping to the next page for new combinations.

Scoring: Points are awarded based on the pages in each book, with specific conditions for each color (red, green, yellow).

Player Experience

Playing **Books of Time** is a visually engaging and strategically rich experience. The game’s unique use of ring binders and pages creates a personal bond between the player and their books. The simplicity of the resource system (pens, paper, and folders) makes planning easier, while the multiple tracks and book activation mechanics offer a good balance of complexity and fun.

Pros

Visually arresting: The game’s design stands out with its ring binders and central lectern.

Balanced mechanics: Easy-to-manage resources with a medium level of complexity.

High replayability: Multiple strategies and objectives ensure varied gameplay.

Solo and multiplayer options: Supports 1-4 players, including solo play.

Cons

Theme implementation: Some find the theme of making books to be somewhat disconnected from the gameplay.

Resource constraints: Managing resources to climb tracks and add pages can be challenging.

Noise from ring binders: The sound of the rings snapping shut can be annoying.

Personal Thoughts on Books of Time

**Books of Time** is ideal for players who enjoy a mix of engine-building and set collection, and appreciate unique game components. It suits those looking for a medium-weight game that is visually appealing and offers a good balance of strategy and fun. While it may not deeply immerse players in its theme, it provides an engaging and satisfying gaming experience. If you’re seeking a game that stands out from the typical Euro game fare and offers a personal touch through its book-building mechanic, **Books of Time** is definitely worth considering.

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