Sequence: A Review of the Family-friendly Card & Board Game

Sequence, a strategy game from Jax, Ltd., is a fun and exciting card/board game that is simple enough for children but still challenging enough for adults. Played with both playing cards and a game board, Sequence successfully combines the elements of skill and strategy with a little help from Lady Luck.

Who can play?

Sequence can be played any number of players from 2 to 12 but the number of players must be divisible by 12 (2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, or 12.) Up to 3 players may play as individuals but more than 3 must form teams. There can be no more than 3 teams per game.

Sequence is recommended for ages seven to adult but younger children may be able to play on a team with adult supervision.

Object of the game.

If you are playing with two players or two teams, the object of the game is for one player or team to score two sequences before their opponent(s). If you are playing with three players or three teams, the object of the game is for one player or one team to score one sequence before their opponent(s).

A sequence is simply a connected series of five of the same color chips. The series will appear as a straight line either up, down, or across diagonally on the playing board. The sequence may include one of the four corner free spaces.

Players form sequences by choosing a card from their hand and placing it face up on their discard pile. Then the player must place one of their colored marker chips on the corresponding playing card picture on the game board. Each card is pictured twice on the board so the player must strategically choose the best place for their marker. From the first round of play, strategy is formed based on the cards you hold in your hand and where your opponents are placing their chips. Usually by the third round of play, everyone is completely engrossed in their strategy and addicted to the challenge of creating sequences.

Game board and equipment

Each Sequence game contains one game board imprinted with 96 playing cards (two standard playing card decks minus the Jacks.) There are 104 Sequence playing cards (Joker cards are not used), 50 green marker chips, 50 blue marker chips, and 35 red marker chips.

When you are only playing with two players or two teams, use the blue and green chips. When playing with three players or three teams, all three colored chips are used.

In the deck of 104 playing cards, there are eight Jacks. The Jacks are what can make this great game frustrating, exciting, and highly competitive because the Jacks have special powers.

The four Jacks with TWO eyes are WILD! That's right; you can play them anywhere you need to make your sequence work. Many a game has been one by the strategically played WILD Jack.

The four Jacks with ONE eye are what the game designer, Doug Reuter, terms: ANTI-WILD. These Jacks are just as powerful as their two-eyed brothers are and it's almost a given that when you play a ONE-eyed Jack, your opponents will howl with frustration. When you play a ONE-eyed Jack on your discard pile, instead of placing a marker chip on the board, you get to remove one of your opponent's chips! You can't remove a chip that is already part of a completed sequence, but all others are fair game.

Pricing

Sequence sells for about $14.98 online at Amazon.com and in your local retail stores. A Deluxe edition with larger board sells for about $27.99. With easy to read instructions, a durable and foldable game board, and a compact storage box, Sequence is a good value for a card/board game.

The average game length is usually about 15 to 20 minutes (it may vary depending upon the players) making this an ideal game to play in a series of "best out of 3." Players are cautioned to supervise children under the age of three during game play because the size of the chips can be a choking hazard.

Engaging, challenging, and just plain addicting fun, Sequence can take its place as a "new" classic family game alongside other classics like Sorry! and Monopoly. Sequence makes a great addition for any household's Game Night.