How To Play: Times

Overview

If you’re anything like me, you hate losing at Times—even when your friends pretend not to care. So, I’ve put together this guide with a quick outline of the game rules and my own tried-and-tested tricks for getting those sweet How To Play times down. If you want to beat your mates and have a good laugh, you’re in the right place!

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 120 Time tokens
• 75 Resource cards
• 5 Player pawns
• 5 Reference cards
• 1 Sand timer
• 1 Rulebook
• 12 Event tiles
• 30 Action markers
• 1 Scorepad

How To Play Times: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Shuffle the event cards and place them in the center of the table.
2. Give each player one timeline board and 5 random event tiles.
3. Set the sand timer and point tokens nearby for everyone to reach.
4. Decide randomly who goes first (flip a coin, wrestle, or just pick the loudest).

Gameplay

1. On your turn, draw an event card and read the date out loud.
2. All players race to place one of their event tiles in the correct spot on their board using the How To Play times you agreed on (usually until the timer runs out).
3. Once time’s up, reveal everyone’s boards and check the placements.
4. If you’re right, you keep your event tile in place; if not, return it to your pool for next round.
5. Pass the event card deck to the next player and repeat.

Winning

1. The first person to place all 5 event tiles correctly on their timeline board wins the game.
2. If more than one succeeds in the same round, break the tie with a sudden-death round (fastest correct answer wins).

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If a player places all their tiles before time is up, they shout “Time’s Up!” and everyone else must stop immediately.
2. If you run out of event tiles to choose from (yes, it can happen if you really mess up), skip your turn to draw a new tile for next round.
3. Use the sand timer for those official How To Play times, but feel free to add a little playful pressure with a kitchen timer or yelling.

Now go out there, set up your timeline, and enjoy beating your friends to historical glory! My crew and I had a blast, especially when someone tried to put “Invention of the Pizza” before “Dinosaurs Roamed the Earth.” Never a dull moment.

Best Times Strategies

Kickstart Your Game: Mastering Opening Moves and Setup

Gathering Your Wits (and Pieces)

First, always check you have all the pieces. My friend once started a round missing two tokens. It ended in chaos and a lot of finger pointing. Double-check the board and cards before you do anything else.

Smart Starting Positions

Choosing your starting spot can set the whole tone of your game. I found that going for center spaces gave me more options later. Here are a few proven tricks:

1. Pick spots with access to resources or actions early on.
2. Avoid corners unless you have a sneaky plan.
3. Watch what others do during setup and adapt.

Quick Decisions Pay Off

Don’t let analysis paralysis freeze you. In my group, the fastest setups often led to more flexible plays later. For best How To Play times, be ready before your turn and stick to your plan, unless you see a golden chance!

Mastering Resource Management in Times

Resource management separates true Times champions from us mere mortals. After many heated sessions with my friends (and losing more times than I care to admit), I’ve found these tactics work best for fine-tuning your How To Play times skills.

Watch Your Spending

1. Allocate resources for crucial early upgrades.
2. Resist the urge to splurge on flashy items too soon.
3. Track what your rivals buy—copy or counter as needed.

Plan for Shortages

1. Always leave a backup stash for emergencies.
2. Trade wisely when you see a bottleneck coming.

Stick to Priorities

1. Make a flexible resource plan at the start.
2. Stay focused—don’t chase every opportunity.

Pulling off these moves helped me shave precious minutes off my How To Play times, and it’ll do the same for you!

Mastering the Endgame: Outsmart Your Friends in Times

Know When To Push

Endgame timing trips up most players. I always watch for signs my friends are running low on options. Once I spot it, I press my advantage fast! Remember, in How To Play times, every minute counts.

Plan Your Final Moves

1. Map out your last 2-3 actions in your head.
2. Leave no loose ends for your rivals to exploit.
3. Count your resources to avoid getting stuck.

Force the Game to End

1. Trigger endgame by snatching the last key piece.
2. Rush objectives if you’re ahead on points.
3. Distract your friends with jokes so they forget their plans—works surprisingly well!

Master the Clock: Your Path to Times Glory

There you have it folks. I’ve spilled every Times secret my brain can hold (and maybe a little coffee on the board too, sorry Dan). Remember: start fast, stretch your resources like that one pair of socks you refuse to throw out, and keep your eyes peeled for the perfect endgame moment. Stick with these tips and you’ll see your How To Play times get quicker than a squirrel on an espresso binge. Now grab your friends, play some Times, and enjoy the chaos. Just don’t let Dan bring his coffee this time.

Want to know what we think of Times? Read our detailed review of Times here