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Would I Lie to You, the board game based on the hit BBC comedy panel show, allows you to take part in all the antics you see on the screen, in your own home. Calling out your competitors on their lies, or bluffing your way through a false fact, this game recreates all the fun of the TV show, whilst bringing it to a different format.
The Basics
The Would I Lie To You set comes with many expected elements, although the board movement is slightly different to normal. Coming with a board to play on like traditional games, this board features two parts in which your pieces move. Along the outside of the board is a circular movement pad and within the circle are two columns where a separate corresponding piece moves upwards.
The first represents the roll of a dice, which you also receive, whilst the second represents the points earned throughout the game. The pieces that you move with are perhaps unimaginatively designed, looking a little like a chess pawn, although in red and blue colour palettes. Despite this, the board itself is well put together, creating a logical solution to a potential scoring problem that many games have.
The board game also comes with three sets of cards, each with their own space to sit on the board. Finally, it comes with a timer for some of the challenges and a notepad for any writing that would be needed. Like most, there are no pens included.
Gameplay
Players separate out into two teams, a red team and a blue team. Once deciding who will start, the first team rolls the dice and moves around the circular part of the board, which contains the names of the three different types of card. The space that they land on signifies the card they must draw and therefore the challenge they must take part in.
The three different types of cards are:
- Quickfire Lie – The card produces the first and second half of a fact. The player drawing the card must make up their own version of the second half of the fact and read out both their version and the real version. The opposing team must predict which is the correct answer.
- Ring of Truth – Similar to the first, the card also provides a fact with a second half and each member of the team also comes up with their own versions of the second half. They have 60 seconds to do this in and then all the answers are read out to the opposing team, where they must once again predict the correct answers. This uses the timer and a writing pad.
- This Is... – Within the ‘This is...’ pile are truth cards and lie cards. The team member picks up the card and reads it out if it is true, or makes up the ending to the card if it is a lie. The opposing team must guess if this is a truth or lie card, by asking questions about the card. If it is true there are items at the bottom of the card to help with these questions. If it is a lie then you have to bluff your way through. The game gives you 30 seconds to prepare, using the timer again.
If the opposing team correctly predicts the right answer, or whether something is true or false, then they earn a point. If they do not then the team with the card wins the point. To signify the point, the piece in the middle of the board gets moved up the ladder-shaped design. The object of the game is to get to the top of this, earning the most amount of points. This game therefore requires skilled liars, as the points are very much based around your ability to bluff, rather than any outside forces.
Final Thoughts on Would I Lie to You
On the whole this game is fun and a little different. Whilst a little confusing to understand at first, the ‘This Is...’ cards are the best to use, as these produce the funniest answers and require the most amount of thinking on your feet. The other two cards are a little similar and quick to play through, just differing in how many team members are involved.
Overall, Would I Lie to You is easy for anyone to pick up and is actually accessible for all ages. Because it doesn’t require any knowledge, this is something anyone can pick up and have a go at. All you need to be able to do is be good at being able to tell if someone is lying, or by making up something yourself (something kids can be much better than adults at).
Would I Lie to You, the board game, manages to capture some of the spirit of the TV show whilst being a suitable adaptation. The game length is pretty perfect, with it sitting around the average length of a board game and the use of the timer is handy in keeping track on certain cards. There is a high level of player interactivity, with the game totally relying on the players rather than chance, as other games do. There is far less tactical play than you may expect however, with lies tending to be quite one dimensional due to the level of facts on the cards.
Would I Lie to You is a surprising addition to the world of board games based on TV shows, but one that works really well. It has compelling gameplay and a logical way in which it is set-up and whilst a couple of the tasks may seem a little similar, the ‘This is...’ card more than makes up for it. The game is therefore a must get, especially for fans of the show.
