
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,977
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Time Bomb
- 4–8 players
- 1–30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2016

2016
Rules assistance for Time Bomb Evolution
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.
Time Bomb Evolution is a board game released in 2016 for 4–6 players, 25–30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by 佐藤 雄介 (Yusuke Sato) and its main mechanics are Deduction, Team-Based Game, and Betting and Bluffing.
タイムボムエボリューション (TimeBomb Evolution) is a game derived from TimeBomb. In the game, players are secretly assigned a role which is either a terrorist or a SWAT officer. Then cards are dealt to each player. They look at their cards and randomly place the cards face-down in front of them. SWATs win together if they deactivate the time bomb by revealing all of the SUCCESS cards. Each turn, a player chooses a card in front of another player and reveal it. If it is a SUCCESS card, SWATs get closer to winning. Otherwise it is a threat card, and its threat effect is activated according to its color. Terrorists win together if four threats of the same color are revealed. Players may discuss whose card should be revealed, but they should be noted that terrorists may be misleading SWATs. ••• スワットとテロリストが時限爆弾を解除する正体隠匿ゲームです。 前作タイムボムのシステムで、より複雑な時限爆弾の解除に挑みます。 地ガン爆弾を解除できたらスワットチームの勝利、爆発したらテロリストチームの勝利となります。
Time Bomb Evolution supports 4–6 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 Time Bomb Evolution is 25–30 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 Time Bomb Evolution 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.
Time Bomb Evolution has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Time Bomb Evolution belongs to these categories: Card Game and Spies / Secret Agents. Its main mechanics are Deduction, Team-Based Game, and Betting and Bluffing. 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 Time Bomb Evolution are: 佐藤 雄介 (Yusuke Sato). 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 Time Bomb Evolution 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.