The Number is a simple yet tricky board game.

Will you dial 999?

Smarter than you think, easier than you expect!

The Number Game Overview

Quick Rules Summary

Each player secretly writes a three-digit number on their boards and then reveals them at the same time.

They are lined up from largest to smallest. Starting with the largest number and going downwards, players check if that number shares any digits with a number lower than it. If it does, you eliminate the board.

Any numbers left score points equal to the first digit in the number. Any digits used are crossed off from those players’ boards and they can not use them for the rest of the round. This is repeated 5 times per round over 2 rounds.

there is a bonus each round for scoring, this increases each round.

How do you win?

After 2 games the player with the most points combined points wins.

Main Mechanisms

This bluff, double bluff part is the main mechanism.

USP

This mechanism isn’t unique, but making the whole game that in a very simple form might just be?

Theme

Nope.

Setup

Give everyone two boards and a pen, I think that’s it.

Components & Artwork

The boards and pens are nice. The backs where you note down your round scoring are recessed so they don’t rub out playing the second round.

No art.

Ease of Teaching

Like any good party game, it’s easy to teach. The hard part is trying to get over how this is a game and not just ‘nothing’.

Similar Games

Om Nom Nom! That has the bluff, double bluff part as the main gameplay element too.

The Number Review

Positives

Very simple and very fun.

It’s very easy to teach and play.

Picking a number is actually quite difficult, 999 is high scoring and obvious, 111 is the low-risk very low-reward option.

Negatives

Picking multiple-digit numbers very rarely pays off and doing so to block other players doesn’t help you unless you play lower… But that means fewer points if you survive.

Summary

Another very fun game from Hisashi Hayashi.

Jesta ThaRogue