Christmas Time is party season at Chance & Counters and, yes, we know it’s only November and we just mentioned the c-word but it’ll be here before you know it, so let’s look at a party style fan favourite and show you something that hits just as well.
Adrenaline based Trivia games are popular, test your knowledge under a time limit? 5 Second Rule is one of the easiest of these on the market. Any number can play and the time between turns is minimal, I mean, the clue is in the name!
So, how do you play? Well, one person names a category from a card, say… breeds of dog. A timer device is activated, some editions have a buzzer, others a 5-second ‘twisted timer’, and another player attempts to name 3 things from the category before the timer runs out, get it right and keep the card. Simple. First to a predetermined number of cards and you have a winner.
The joy of watching someone fumble an answer or just go blank is strangely satisfying. The arguments on what constitutes a legal answer are also amusing! Better to have more people involved so you can vote or ‘discuss’ some of those far out responses.
This game has been around since 2010 and shows no signs of not being popular, other versions exist, the Junior version has easier categories and another version has a board you move around, first to the end wins.
Simple rules and a dose of adrenaline is what you have here, addictive much? In a modern world of online short-form content, a boardgamer that gives the same rush is appealing for when you don’t want to learn too many rules. So, what could possibly challenge such a crisp and concise premise?
The new adrenaline category naming contender: Tilt ‘n’ Shout
Oooo… that’s a fun looking see-saw? Interesting…
The main difference here is Tilt ‘n’ Shout is a team game, it doesn’t matter if you have an uneven number of players, it still works really well!
Decide on a playing order, you’re going to be taking this in turns, place three category cards facedown on the table, set up the see-saw where everyone can reach it and place the ball in the hole in the middle of the see-saw and you’re ready to begin!
Whichever team is going first makes sure the other team is ready and turns over a category card and names an item in the chosen category then slaps the see-saw so the ball starts rolling towards them.
The next player on the other team now shouts out another answer from the same category before the ball falls out the opponent’s end of the see-saw, if it does then the team who has the ball fall into their winning zone scores a point.
This is the clever part, to mark a win you move a column towards you that rests under the see-saw, as you do it gets in the way of the see-saw and means that when it’s your opponent’s turn they have longer and longer and longer to answer and think of a response. Genius!
You win when you need to move your scoring column and there are no more slots to move it to, game over, celebrate with your team!
Yes, yes… we know what you’re thinking… we know you technically shout and tilt but, let’s face it… that doesn’t sound so good as a name of a game!
The addition of the varied timer and built in catch-up mechanism is awesome and add that to the fact that you’re taking it in turns just increases the drama. You better think of a few answers ahead of time else the next player will likely shout out the one you were about to!
So, there you go, get competitive with a see-saw, that’s not something you hear every day!