Introduction
In early 2024, we launched A LITTLE SLICE OF HISTORY, a new card game dubbed the mighty game in a mini box. In this new game, players challenge their chums whilst matching History Heroes to make surprising new connections. A LITTLE SLICE OF HISTORY is a game of fun and stealth learning – with an emphasis on stealth this time!
So what led us to this new game, and why little slices?
History Heroes games have always been about who made history, how and when. Our classic themed card games, and the board game A RACE IN TIME are perfect for all those 8-80+. Whilst this is a broad range of interest and ages, we wanted to do even better. A card game for family nights, sleepovers, little ones, an evening at the pub, a train journey, on holiday, to play with the grandparents or your university mates. In short, we wanted to make a fun, challenging and engaging game suitable for, well… everyone! And so, the wheels were set in motion for A LITTLE SLICE OF HISTORY.
With the purpose of creating a new game, we gathered at History Heroes HQ. The discussion centred on how many connections there are between history’s greatest heroes – from the obvious and widely known, to the bizarre and unexpected. What followed was a scrupulous narrowing down of connection categories to form what we eventually landed on: Artist, Campaigner, Child Prodigy, Explorer, Inventor, Film & TV, Leader, Monarch, Musician, Scientist, Space, Sport, Technology, War and Writer, plus question marks and blanks to add some further excitement. Next came narrowing down every hero in history across the world and through the ages to just 50. Quite the challenge! After customer surveys and much deliberation, we settled on a fantastic array of heroes across countries, centuries, and walks of life.
History Heroes fans loved the A RACE IN TIME event cards so much, we wondered how they would work in this instance. Here, the Superslice was born. To keep the energy high, what would happen if a player had to pick up an entire row of cards played? Yes, it’s frustrating to be on the receiving end, but how deliciously mischievous to be the one to play it!
In our classic History Heroes card games, each card contains a gorgeous illustration, 6 facts in varying difficulty plus a bonus joker fact. In A LITTLE SLICE OF HISTORY we stripped this right back to a simple line to identify the hero. This way players can simply play for fun or get curious about who made history, how and when, researching more as they play.
And just like that, the game was set!
New History Heroes
As well as established History Heroes such as Maya Angelou, Cleopatra, Winston Churchill, Pelé and Oprah Winfrey, we are very excited to introduce some new fantastic characters to the mix. Let’s take a look at a few of them!
DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
I am a broadcaster, passionate about nature.
Sir David Attenborough is a well deserving History Hero! The British broadcaster, biologist and nature historian is a national treasure, known for his BBC nature documentary series including Planet Earth and Blue Planet. Attenborough has been a prominent environmentalist and advocate for decades. Truthfully we could have given Attenborough many categories but after all, this is just a little slice.
DOLLY PARTON
I am a Country singer and philanthropist.
Donned with a coat of many colours, Dolly Parton is a woman of many talents! Parton is recognised as the most popular celebrity of all time, well known for her country music and movie roles. Parton is also an avid philanthropist and campaigner, having contributed significantly to literacy efforts in the United States, being a supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, and donated to fund the critical early stages of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Welcome to History Heroes, Dolly!
IDA B. WELLS
I was a writer and Civil Rights Activist.
Ida B. Wells was an American investigative journalist and early leader in the civil rights movement in the United States. She was one of the founders of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) who was one of the country’s most impactful campaigners and advocates for equality. A hugely significant History Hero who deserves all of the recognition!
NELLIE BLY
I raced around the world in 72 days.
You’ve heard of Jules Verne’s ‘Around the world in 80 days’. Nellie Bly blew that out of the park! Alongside this impressive exploration, Bly was a pioneering investigative journalist, known for working undercover in a mental institution to expose their conditions. Welcome to the fold Nellie Bly.
TOM HANKS
When I’m not acting, I collect typewriters
Forrest Gump, Captain Phillips, Toy Story, Catch Me If You Can… Tom Hanks is a true screen magnate. With connections to a whole host of History Heroes in A LITTLE SLICE OF HISTORY, we think you’ll have fun with this one!
SURPRISING CONNECTIONS
Now, the crux of the game – the connections. We love to hear the new connections players are finding, it feels as though the possibilities are endless! Here are just a small handful of them…
Scroll to the end of this blog post to find answers!
- What do Dolly Parton and Charles Dickens have in common? There may well be a number of things connecting the queen of country and the novelist legend. Can you name one?
- What do Oprah Winfrey and Tom Hanks have in common? This pair likely have crossed paths a few times, what being Hollywood Heroes and all! Do you know any links between them?
- What do William Shakespeare and Cleopatra have in common? The writer and the leader… what could link them?
HOW TO PLAY?
The aim of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards by placing down matching sides of the cards by their categories.
- Take turns placing a card down to match a side (or more) of your card to an available side (or more) of another card already on the table. Together, build a brilliant picture of connecting History Heroes but don’t forget, there can only be one winning player!
- To start: Shuffle the cards and deal them out: 5 cards each if you’re playing with 3 or more people, 10 cards each if there’s 2 players.
- Put the rest of the cards face down in a pile to one side, within reach. Turn over the top card and place in the middle of the playing surface – this is your starting card. The game begins with the youngest player and moves clockwise.
- In order to play a card, match a side to an available matching side on another card already played on the table, face up.
- BLANK SIDES cannot be connected to anything, they are dead ends.
- QUESTION MARKS can be matched to any category if the player can argue a convincing connection. Players cannot connect a question mark to a category if that category already appears on both/either cards. Players can connect a question mark to another question mark if the connection doesn’t already appear on either card. In the event of a discussion on a connection’s validity, all players vote honestly, not strategically! Majority rules.
- Event cards have individual instructions.
- Neutral event cards: players can play these cards wherever they wish, except on a blank side.
- Category event cards: players must match the event card to a side of the same category.
- If a player can’t play a card in their hand, they must draw a card from the central, face down pile of cards. If they are able to play the new, picked up card, they can. If not, they miss their go.
- If a player has 1 card left, they must shout ‘Hero’. If they do not, anyone can shout ‘Hero’ at them, meaning that the player, who only had one card, must pick up another card.
Alternative ways to play A LITTLE SLICE OF HISTORY
If you’re playing in a small space, on the go, or simply want a new challenge, play the game by stacking cards on top of each other. Remove the superslice cards from the deck and shuffle the cards. Pick one of the following ways to play:
1 – Taking turns
Deal the cards out: 5 cards each if you’re playing with 3 or more people, 10 cards each if there’s 2 players. Put the rest of the cards face down in a piule to one side, within reach. Turn over the top card and place in the middle of the playing surface – this is your starting card. The game begins with the youngest player and moves clockwise, following the same rules as regular play.
2 – Speed game
Deal out the whole deck between the players, minus the Superslices which are not in play here. Youngest player puts a card down, and anyone can put a card down with a matching connection. If someone plays an event card, everyone must pause and follow the instructions that event card provides. If the event cards require a player to pick up cards, these are taken from the bottom of the pile already played. If an event card requires a player to pick up 3 cards and only 2 cards have been played, for instance, that player need only pick up those 2 cards.
P.S the cards are colour-coded according to the eras the History Heroes were born in. Yellow is pre-and Ancient Era. Red is Medieval Era. Blue is Early Modern Era. Purple is Modern Era.
- 50 Triangular History Heroes cards
- 10 sneaky event cards
- For 2-6 players, suitable for ages 6+
- A set of rules in the box
- Many ways to play!
- Designed and made in the UK
- Printed on FSC certified card
- Screen free and plastic free!
Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.0 x 2.6 cm; 98 g
FAQs ON HOW TO PLAY A LITTLE SLICE OF HISTORY
Can I connect a blank side to another side?
No, the blank sides are designed to stop players in their tracks!
What can I connect a question mark to?
You can connect a question mark to any side except a blank side, so long as you can convincingly argue the connection and the connection is not already a category on either card!
WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK?
“Top-quality games are not only beautifully illustrated but also packed to the brim with fascinating historical tidbits. Whether you’re a history buff or just dipping your toes into the past, there’s something for everyone… If you’re looking for a fun and educational game that’s easy to take with you wherever you go, this could be a winner!” – The Home Ed Daily
“A fun family card game with an educational aspect…. what more could you want?” – Board Game Addict
“A little box full of so much fun that your little ones won’t even know they’re learning history as they play!” – Chocolit
“Super fun, fast paced and group oriented. Great bits of history trivia to impress your friends with too!” – Customer
Get your copy of A LITTLE SLICE OF HISTORY!
So, what do you think… fancy a little slice?
Answers to the surprising connections
Dolly Parton and Charles Dickens – Both have theme parks/attractions named after them. You can fact check this one in the Guardian Saturday Quiz from June 2024!
Oprah Winfrey and Tom Hanks – Oprah has interviewed Tom Hanks, and they both went yachting with the Obamas (and… Bruce Springsteen!)
William Shakespeare and Cleopatra – Shakespeare wrote a play with Cleopatra as a titular character. The play is the famous ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ written around 1606.