
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,299
- BGG rating
- 6.6
VIP RIP
- 3–8 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2022

2004
Rules assistance for Team Work Original
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 4 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Team Work Original is a board game released in 2004 for 4–16 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Michael Andersch and its main mechanics are Storytelling, Cooperative Game, and Team-Based Game.
From the publisher: "How's this supposed to work again? What happens when a team of two explainers are supposed to describe a concept but can only say the sentences together? But it gets better: the players can't discuss what they want to say ahead of time and must build the sentence while alternating words! A good time is guaranteed because the rest all try to figure out what the concept is at the same time. Who will have the most points?" Cards are in German, English, French, and Italian. The expansions in the series can be played as stand-alone games or mixed with other Team Work decks. Integrates With: Team Work: Feste & Feiern Team Work: Fußball 1 Team Work: Fußball 2 Team Work: Mathematik Team Work: Mozart Team Work: Musik Team Work: Religion Teamwork: Urlaub
Team Work Original supports 4–16 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 Team Work Original 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 Team Work Original for ages 10 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.
Team Work Original 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.
Team Work Original belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Word Game. Its main mechanics are Storytelling, Cooperative Game, and Team-Based Game. 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 Team Work Original are: Michael Andersch. 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 Team Work Original 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.