How to Play
Players build a shared timeline of songs by placing their hidden song in its correct chronological position. As the timeline expands, finding the right spot becomes more challenging. Placing their song in the wrong spot leads to elimination, and the last player standing claims victory!
What You'll Need
- A smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access to display the game board and play songs
- One device to display the game board
- A second device (phone or tablet) with a QR code scanner to play songs
- A Spotify or YouTube Premium account on the second device for uninterrupted music playback
Ways to Play
Gather in the same room, load up ChronoBeats on one screen, and use another device to scan the QR code to play each song.
Play over Zoom, Discord, or FaceTime. Keep the song hidden by utilizing any of the following tactics:
- Letting each player scan and play their own track trying their best not to peak at any details.
- Having someone else scan and play it through their mic.
- Starting a synced listening session on Spotify Jam or YouTube WatchParty.
- Or, if you’re the host, paste the link in your browser and hide the window before any details show.
Setup
Add each player's name (or team name) in the order of which they will take their turn. Going on a later turn is usually more challenging. It is recommended to order yourselves from youngest to oldest.
The handicap system allows players of different skill levels to compete fairly. The number determines how many coins that player will start with. The recommended and default handicap is 2 which means that by default, players will start with 2 coins. After a couple of games, this value may be adjusted to weaken stronger players, or strengthen weaker players.
This game uses a seed to shuffle songs into a specific order. The same seed always gives the same sequence, so you can replay or share the exact game you just played. However, future versions of this game may reset the songs for each seed.
Basic Gameplay
There will be single random song placed in the timeline.
- Have another player scan your QR Code on a separate device (or open a new window on the same device) to play your mystery song. The other player plays the song but must conceal all other details (i.e. title and artist) from you by means such as covering the music-playing device or minimizing the window playing audio.
- Listen to that song being played and place it chronologically on the timeline where you think it belongs (before, after, or between the existing songs) according to its release year. If multiple songs share the same year, they may be placed in any order next to each other, regardless of the exact release date.
- If placed correctly, you may guess the title and artist of that song to gain a coin.
- If placed incorrectly, you are eliminated from the game.
The last player standing, once all other players are eliminated, is the winner!
Coin Actions
Coins are gained by correctly guessing the title and artist of the song after correct placement.
They may be used during your turns for the following cost and action:
Cost: 1 coin
Replace the current song with a new one.
Cost: 2 coins
Remove any song from the current timeline.
Cost: 3 coins
Pass your turn to the next player without risking elimination.
Players may only store a maximum of 5 coins.
Console
Use the console if the game is not functioning as intended without needing to reset your game. Since it bends the normal rules, make sure every player agrees before using it. A few good examples of when to use the console are:
- Skipping a song if it does not play correctly on Spotify or YouTube
- Granting a coin if everyone agrees your guess was close enough
- Reviving a player if the game clearly got a song’s year wrong