Deadlines (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Deadlines is a card game released in 2020 that combines elements of trivia, memory, and take-that mechanics. Designed by Julien Teilhet, the game is suitable for 1 to 10 players aged 12 and up. The game challenges players to meet various deadlines by answering trivia questions correctly and strategically playing action cards to sabotage their opponents.

Game Components of Deadlines

Tombstone cards: Three cards representing Date of Birth, Life Span, and Date of Death.

Character cards: 204 cards featuring famous people, with details on their name, date of birth, date of death, and length of life. Some Character cards have a black background with highlighted words indicating the cause of death.

Penalty cards: Used to track mistakes made by players.

How To Setup Deadlines

To set up the game, place the three Tombstone cards in the play area. Shuffle the Character cards and divide them equally into three piles, with the character name side up above the Tombstone cards. Flip over the top character card in each pile to its date side and place it under the corresponding Tombstone card.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Selection: The oldest player goes first.

Character Card Placement: Each player selects a Character card and, without looking at the date side, places it in one of the Tombstone columns (Date of Birth, Life Span, or Date of Death) in chronological order or from shortest to longest.

Penalty System: If a card is placed incorrectly, the player suffers a penalty and places the Character card in front of them.

Special Cards: Character cards with a black background require players to guess the cause of death; correct guesses can remove penalties or assign them to other players.

Game End: The game ends when all three Tombstone columns are filled; the player with the fewest penalties wins.

Player Experience

**Deadlines** is easy to learn and quick to set up, making it a great addition to any family game night. The game is educational, providing context about famous individuals, which can help players who are unfamiliar with them. However, the game’s replay value is limited due to its trivia nature, where repeated plays can make the game less enjoyable as players remember more answers.

Pros

Fast and Easy to Learn: Quick setup and simple rules make it accessible to all ages.

Educational: Players learn about famous people and their lives.

Helpful Details: Character cards provide context to help players who are not familiar with the individuals.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 12 and above.

Cons

Replay Value: Limited due to the repetitive nature of trivia games.

Morose: The game involves learning about how famous people died, which can be somber.

Personal Thoughts on Deadlines

**Deadlines** is ideal for families or groups looking for a light-hearted, educational game that doesn’t require a significant time commitment. It’s particularly suited for players interested in history and trivia. However, those seeking a game with high replay value might find **Deadlines** less appealing after several plays. If you enjoy learning about famous individuals and are looking for a quick, engaging game, **Deadlines** is a good choice.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.