Pyramid Review: Chrononauts (Beta Version)

Pyramid Review

Chrononauts (Beta Version)

Published by Looney Labs

Designed by Andrew Looney

32 Time Line cards, 12 ID cards, 10 Mission cards, 81 Chrononauts cards, rulebook, $12.00 (The price for the final version has not been set.)

(Review Note: This review is based on the beta version of Chrononauts, sold in a limited edition at Origins 2000. The final, full color version is expected in October 2000 and a price has not been set. Andrew Looney stated that changes from the beta to the final version would be minor and consented to a review based on this version.)

"So, you've finally gotten yourself a Time Machine. Now what?" Perhaps you will sabotage Sputnik, perhaps you will stop the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, or perhaps you will save John Lennon. Chrononauts, a new game by the makers of Fluxx and Aquarius, provides these and many more opportunities for two to six players.

This delightful card game pits Chrononauts, or time travelers, against one another in a race to get home to their own realities, gather three specific artifacts, or patch up enough holes in time to keep the universe from collapsing. Whichever player can complete one of these goals first wins. Along the way, the Chrononauts will rewind time, reverse fate, start World War 3, then back up and do it all over again.

The key to Chrononauts is the Time Line. A four by eight grid of cards represents the years between 1865 and 1999. One year, and one major historical event, grace . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.



Article publication date: September 15, 2000

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