Timbuktu

Timbuktu – Review

Timbuktu (or “Tombouctou” for the international version) was first published in 1993 and is designed by Dirk Henn. The goal of this game is to get all your camels and as many goods safely to Timbuktu. Along the way, while resting at oases, thieves will steal your goods.

Using your deduction skills, you attempt the hoary desert crossing with (most of) your goods intact!

Timbuktu:timbuktu-1

  • Designed by: Dirk Henn
  • Published by: Queen Games
  • Number of players: 3-5
  • Playing time: 45 minutes
  • Player ages: 10+

A Quick Overview

Each player is a merchant attempting to safely cross the Sahara with their caravan of camels and goods to reach Timbuktu. Along the way, players will be accosted by thieves at the oases.

The successful player is the one who crosses safely to Timbuktu with the most amount of valuable goods in his caravan.

Over the course of the game, each player will receive information about which goods and which camel resting stalls (called pitches) will be stolen from. Using deduction skills, players move each of their camels from one desert oasis to the next.

timbuktu-2Game Play

Before beginning the game, each player loads up their camels with a variety of goods. With the Queen Games version, each players mat has two sides. One side is a beginner, pre-allocated goods table and the other side is for players to allocate goods as they wish.

Then each player will be dealt 3 cards which detail the nature of the thefts that will occur at the next oasis.

At the beginning of a turn, every player:

  • Chooses a camel card to play
  • Simulataneously reveals their camel card and then …

Starting with the first player, moves their camel to a free spot at the next oasis.

Camel movement is the most interesting part of the game because you have to be careful about where your camels move. Movement may also be restricted due to placement of the camel in the previous oasis.

Landing at certain spots at the next oasis will cause players to pass on their cards (theft information) to the player on their left.

While it may seem best to get all the information on the thieves as early as possible by causing the cards to be passed on, there is an advantage to ensuring that this information doesn’t get passed on.

Using your deduction to move your camels to safe spots or causing other players to move their camels to spot that will have a theft is all part of your strategy.

timbuktu-3Observations

This is a deduction game and for some players that may cause grief! I am not a strong player when it comes to these types of games so I usually avoid them. However, this one is a fun game and one that I don’t mind playing occasionally.

Players who are new to Euro-type games will think “Guess Who” or “Clue” when deduction is mentioned but I don’t believe that these are appropriate comparisons.

The first edition of this game did not allow players to record information which I think causes this game to be more difficult for a lot of players. The Queen Games edition explicity states in the rules that players may record information.

The addition of the Queen Games rule makes this into a more friendly and casual game than something that is cerebral and memory-oriented.

I have also introduced this game to younger players and they don’t quite understand why it is necessary to keep track of the thief cards that have been seen. However, they seem to enjoy it regardless.

As far as game production is concerned, Queen Games has never disappointed me in this regard. The camels are cute little wooden pieces and the boards are sturdy and colourful!

Is this a good game?

I think so. The game is different enough from a lot of games that it warrants inclusion in your game library. However, if deduction games aren’t your idea of a good time, I would cheerfully pass on this game.

Happy gaming.