Pendulum

A real-time engine builder where your own time is the resource and the best investor wins, not the fastest.

Designer: Travis P Jones
Published by: Stonemaier Games
Editions by: 999 Games, Maldito Games, Albi, Delta Vision Publishing, Matagot, Ghenos Games, CrowD Games, Feuerland Spiele, Albi Polska, Automa Factory

In Pendulum, each player is a powerful noble vying to succeed the Timeless King as the true ruler of Dünya. You command workers, execute stratagems and expand the provinces of your domain, all in real time, to gain resources and climb four victory tracks: power, prestige, popularity and legendary achievement. The twist is that time itself is a resource. You decide how long to spend on different actions, and how much to spend planning and analyzing. The winner is not the fastest but the person who invests their time best and builds the strongest engine. It plays solo or up to five, around ninety minutes, and it is a heavy, unusual hybrid of real-time play and strategy.

Real time as a resourceFour victory tracksUnique nobles with different powers

Who it's for

You enjoy heavy engine building and want to try something where the clock itself is part of the strategy.

Not for you if…

You dislike time pressure or want a relaxed, turn-based pace. The timer is the whole point here.

Vibe's take

Tense in a way few board games are. You think, act, check the clock and realize you have been planning for too long, all while an engine of workers hums along.