When game night rolls around, most groups fall into one of two camps: Strategy or Trivia. Some players just love a good strategic showdown, while others prefer the chaos of quick-thinking trivia-fuelled party games. If you fall into that second group then naming games hold a special kind of magic. They lure you in with seemingly simple prompts: types of fruit, TV shows or famous landmarks, and then gleefully watch as your brain melts under the pressure, leaving you unable to recall even the most obvious of answers. Titles like 5 Second Rule and Think Words have long proven how entertaining this format can be, but Tension from Cheatwell Games takes the familiar formula and gives it a clever, competitive twist. Instead of naming any correct answers, you’re racing to find the exact ten answers printed on the card. It’s a small change that transforms the experience into something far more frantic, funny and fiercely competitive.
Tension is a board game designed for two teams (though it works perfectly well as a two‑player duel), recommended for players aged 8 and up. The premise is simple: name as many of the ten answers listed on the card as you can before the 60‑second timer runs out. But don’t be fooled, simplicity doesn’t mean ease. The game thrives on pressure, memory recall and the sheer joy of shouting increasingly desperate guesses at your teammates while the sand drains away from the timer. It’s the kind of game where confidence evaporates instantly and the most obvious answers suddenly feel like they’ve been wiped from existence.
In the box:
- 240 Tension Cards (containing 480 topics)
- Tension Card Scorer
- Game Board
- 60 -second Sand Timer
- 2x Playing Counters
- Rules / Instructions
Setting up is a straightforward process. Players split into two teams (red and blue), choose a captain for each (they will be in charge of the scoring) and place their playing counter on the starting spot on the board. The box includes two decks of blue cards and two decks of red cards; these are combined into one blue deck and one red deck before play begins. The Tension Card Scorer, an ingenious little slider device, keeps track of correct answers and score, adding to the suspense and satisfaction of each round.
The gameplay alternates between teams, with the opposing captain drawing a card, slotting it into the scorer and keeping the answers hidden. Each card contains a topic and ten specific answers. The guessing team has one minute to shout out as many as they can, while the captain slides markers across to register correct responses. The number of correct answers equals the number of spaces the team moves on the board. Special spaces add extra spice: whirlwind spaces double your score, while nomination spaces force your team to predict how many answers you’ll get before hearing the topic – get it right and you surge forward, get it wrong and you slide backwards. The winning team is the one that makes it around the board to the finish spot in the centre.
Overall, we think that Tension is a fabulous fast-paced straightforward naming game with a challenge. With 480 topics covering everything from pop culture to everyday trivia, no two rounds feel the same and every player gets their moment to shine (or crumble). What makes Tension fun is the delightfully delicious frustration of knowing dozens of valid answers to a topic but needing the right ten to score the points. For example, girls names beginning with S sounds so quick and easy to answer – that is until you discover that none of your perfectly reasonable suggestions appear on the card. The game delights in these moments and they’re exactly what make it so replayable.
The two different decks of topic cards is a thoughtful touch and it allows you to tailor the game for children, adults and families or players of varying abilities. The blue cards have slightly easier topics, making them ideal for younger players, while the red cards are trickier, making them more of a challenge for adults. This makes Tension a genuinely inclusive family game.
Some players may initially become annoyed at the “exact answers only” rule, especially when their perfectly sensible guesses don’t count, even though are technically “right”. But this is precisely what levels the playing field. Trivia experts can’t simply bulldoze their way through; luck, lateral thinking and a dash of chaos all play a part. It keeps the game balanced, unpredictable, fun and very entertaining.
And for those players who fall in love with the format, Cheatwell also offers themed expansion packs: Foodies, Music, Movies, Sport and TV, which can be used as standalone mini‑games or mixed into the main set for even more variety.
Tension is fast, funny and fantastically good at getting everyone shouting, laughing and groaning in equal measure. It’s easy to learn, quick to play and guaranteed to generate memorable moments. If your game nights thrive on energy, noise and a healthy dose of panic, Tension is absolutely one to add to your shelf.
A brilliantly chaotic naming game where the obvious answers vanish the moment the timer starts. Tension turns panic into pure game night entertainment.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £20
For more information, visit cheatwell.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.