- BGG rank
- BGG #30,064
- BGG rating
- 5.1
The T-Shirt Game
- 3–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,514
- BGG rating
- 5.2
The Chain Game
2008
Rules assistance for The Chain Game
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–10 players
- 20–30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.4/5
Rules assistant for The Chain Game
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Chain Game is a board game released in 2008 for 3–10 players, 20–30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Garrett J. Donner, Michael S. Steer, and Wendy L. Harris.
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About the game
From the manufacturer's website: "Unlock your mind for spontaneous laughter! Race to say a common phrase using one word from the previous phrase. Keep the chain going and you keep your links. If the horn blows, the time is up, and you lose a link." The game consists of 216 word cards, a squeeze-the-bulb bicycle/clown horn, and 36 plastic links. One player starts by reading a word - for example, "check." The next player may say, "checkmate," the next, "blank check," and the next, "blank slate." And so on around the circle, till one player blanks out and can't think of a combination involving the previous words within 5 seconds. Then the horn is honked and that player must remove a link from the chain they were given at the start of the game. When any player loses their last link, the game is over and whoever has the most links left wins.
Categories
Publishers
- Out of the Box Publishing
Questions and answers
The Chain Game supports 3–10 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 The Chain Game is 20–30 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 The Chain Game for ages 12 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.
The Chain Game has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
The Chain Game belongs to these categories: Party Game. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed The Chain Game and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of The Chain Game are: Garrett J. Donner, Michael S. Steer, and Wendy L. Harris. 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 The Chain Game 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.