The Number (2020)

About this game

Smarter than you think, easier than you expect! This little Japanese game doesn’t fit into any single category. You don’t realize how rich The Number is while playing. The Number is an expert mix of mechanics: Bluffing, Risk-taking, but also Guessing (a mechanic that involves anticipating your opponent’s next moves and adapting your strategy accordingly). It takes 5 minutes to learn, but you won’t have it all figured out yet! Choose, check and resolve! How to play? A game of The Number plays over 2 rounds of 5 turns each during which everyone plays simultaneously. 1- Choose Each turn, everyone secretly writes a number from 000 to 999 on their boards, then reveals them at the same time. 2- Check Line up the numbers from biggest to smallest (top to bottom) and check if your number is approved (it doesn’t share digits with any of the numbers below it) or eliminated (it has at least one digit in common with any of the numbers below it). 3- Resolve If your number is approved, gain as many points as the first digit of your number. Then, you must cross off the digits you used in your number from your board. You will not be able to use them for the rest of the round.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 5.
• Rules load. At 1.1/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 8 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.