Wavelength Review
Do you remember playing that game where you’d have your friends rank some random thing on a completely made up scale by say something like,
“On the scale of 0 to 10, 0 being ‘as small as a pea’ and 10 being ‘as big as an elephant’ How big would you say ____ is?”
Well now it’s a game, and you need it!
What is Wavelength?
Wavelength is a social party game where you will compete to read each other’s minds.
Teams take turns rotating a dial to where they think a target is located along a spectrum. This spectrum is randomly set and hidden behind a screen.
One player from the team, acting as the Psychic, knows where the target is and must give the other players on their team a clue on the spectrum between two opposing concepts. Concepts such as Cold/Hot, Wet/Dry, or more specific ones like “Book Was Better Than The Movie / Movie Was Better Than The Book.
After the Psychic gives the clue, their teammates discuss out loud where to place the dial.
Once the dial is set and the team is happy, the Psychic opens the screen to reveal the dial’s placement in relation to the target area.
The close you get to the center of the target, the more points your team scores!
What Do We Think?
Sometimes you play a game and you just know it’s going to be a hit.
I 100% feel this with Wavelength!
Wavelength has everything you want in a party game:
First of all, it’s lightning fast to teach. This means that you can plop it on the table and get playing almost as soon as you get the box top off. In fact, the game is played in the box, so you’re literally over halfway there!
It’s a light game. There are no complex strategy decisions players will have to work through. Yet, you will still think intently about clues that you give and the placement of the dial you set. It may not seem like it, but Wavelength does get you contemplating and thinking over the clues, trying to decide how your teammates and opponents think.
It also does what my favorite party game aspect is: it creates an incredibly fun environment that not only gets everyone laughing and having a good time, but one where players will also learn a bit more about the people they play it with.
I absolutely love how you get to see a little bit into how your friends and family think by how they give clues or how they discuss where to place the dial on the spectrum. The discussion that ensues after the clue is given is always so fun. As everyone thinks out loud you can hear just how differently everyone interprets the clue and where their mind is at. I really like that the discussion phase has no limits. I love when players are able to have the freedom to make their own fun, to discuss, and determine the dial placement.
Even better is when the Psychic opens the screen to reveal where the dial is in relation to the target area. If you get it right, everyone freaks out. Seriously. If you get it square in the center, the reaction is always amazing! So fun.
If you are outside the target area, especially way outside, it’s still fun because then everyone gets to hear what the Psychic was thinking and laugh as you discover that you were not the same wavelength whatsoever.
A Fantastic Party Game
It may seem strange to already be thinking about the party games I’m going to bring around during the holidays, but Wavelength has definitely shot itself straight to number one.
I love that we can play Wavelength with anyone. It comes with a plethora of wavelength cards that everyone enjoy. There are plenty of options for both a young and older audience without any of the cards ever straying from a family friendly zone. Kids as young as 8 should be able to join right in with a team!
We love that not only can you play Wavelength with a group of people split into two teams, but you can also play it with just two using their cooperative mode!
In fact, we are playing it together over on IGTV so you can see just how well Adam and I can get on the same wavelength!
This makes the game feel like more than just a party game. In the same way that Codenames is fun for a group or fun for two (if you haven’t tried Codenames: Duet, you’re missing out!) Wavelength hits that same stride that elevates it above the pack. If you’ve got a smaller group or just want a lighthearted game to play with your spouse after the kids have gone to bed, Wavelength can be an option!
Final Thoughts
Wavelength is a fantastic game!
One of the most fun party games I have played in recent years and one that I am so excited to share and introduce to new people. It’s a no fail game where the discussion between players brings the fun and hilarity and I’m here for it!
You are going to want to play this again and again!
Game Info:
Title: Wavelength
2-12 Players 14+
Designer: Wolfgang Warsch, Alex Hague, Justin Vickers
Artists: Nan Na Hvass, Sofie Hannibal
Publisher: Palm Court and Asmodee North America
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