- BGG rank
- BGG #2
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Ark Nova
- 1–4 players
- 90–150 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,394
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Number Chain
2024
Rules assistance for Number Chain
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Number Chain
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Number Chain is a board game released in 2024 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Woojin Yang and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
You want to rid yourself of cards as quickly as possible in Number Chain, and to do so you will...chain numbers. Yes, no surprise there! Each player starts with a hand of cards, with each showing a two-digit number, although sometimes one digit is a ?, a "wild" stands for a digit of your choice. Place three cards face up in the pool and one card face up on the floor. A condition tile starts on the pivot side; more on that later. On a turn, you can play any number of cards from your hand as long as the first number on these cards matches the last number on the floor card. (That last number is the "pivot".) Arrange your played cards on the floor in the order of your choice with the top card becoming the new floor. If you can chain three consecutive numbers, you can play them no matter what the floor card is, then you take another turn. Instead of playing or chaining, you can take a pool card or the top card of the deck into your hand, refilling the pool, if necessary. Finally, you can reset by taking all three pool cards into your hand, then flipping the condition tile. The side opposite "pivot" is relay, and when relay is the condition, you can play cards one by one, with the first digit of each played card matching the last digit of the new floor card. Maybe you can empty your hand all in one go this way? When one player empties their hand, everyone else can only play or chain from that point, exiting the game when they can't put down cards on their turn. Each wild card still in hand is worth 3 points, and each non-wild card is 1 point. Play three rounds in this manner, then whoever has the fewest points wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Broadway Toys LTD
- Korea Boardgames
- funbot
- Arcane Wonders
Questions and answers
Number Chain supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Number Chain is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Number Chain for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Number Chain has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Number Chain belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Number Chain are: Woojin Yang. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Number Chain as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.