Saving Time (2019) Board Game

Saving Time is a cooperative card game designed by Edu Torres and published in in 2019. Set in a science fiction world of spies and secret agents, players take on the roles of agents working together to save the timeline from unraveling.

Game Components of Saving Time

5×5 tile grid representing different periods in history

Crisis deck

Ripple tokens

Skill tokens

Endgame cards (alien cards)

Character cards with special powers

Home base board

Action cards

How To Setup Saving Time

To set up the game, players start by creating a 5×5 tile grid, each tile representing a different period in history, from Ancient Babylon to the making of the Atomic Bomb. Each player chooses a character with unique special powers. The Crisis deck is shuffled and placed within reach of all players. The home base board is set up separately, where players can draw cards and manage their hand.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Action Queue: Players take turns performing up to three actions.

Cooperative Game: Players work together to achieve the game’s objective.

Variable Player Powers: Each character has a unique special power.

Game Objective

Players take on the roles of Time Agents, traveling through time to correct aberrations created by an alien assault.

The objective is to gather skill tokens to match the symbols on the alien cards, which are the endgame cards.

If five tiles are destroyed (become Void Tiles), the game is lost.

Player Experience

In **Saving Time**, players navigate a dynamic timeline, responding to crises that arise from an alien attack on different historical periods. The game features a dynamic hand management system, where players can teleport back to their home base to refill their hand of cards after resolving a crisis. This mechanic allows for strategic planning and quick turns, making the game engaging and fast-paced.

Pros

Dynamic Hand Management: Players can draw cards during their turn by teleporting to their home base, making hand management more interactive and fun.

Quick Turns: The game’s mechanics ensure that the end of turn and event deck phases are swift, reducing downtime.

Variable Player Powers: Each character’s special power adds unique strategies to the game.

Good Board Coverage: With four players, the game allows for constant presence on the board, ensuring good coverage.

Cons

Tile Management: The game requires careful management of tiles to avoid losing due to five destroyed tiles.

Simple Crisis Resolution: Some players might find the crisis resolution mechanics too straightforward.

Personal Thoughts on Saving Time

**Saving Time** is ideal for fans of cooperative games and those who enjoy time travel themes. It is particularly suited for families and casual gamers due to its family-weight complexity. The game’s ability to accommodate solo play with a single character and a larger pool of cards adds to its versatility. Overall, **Saving Time** offers a fun, cooperative experience with a unique blend of time travel and crisis management.

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.