Once Upon a Time: The Storytelling Card Game

About this board game

Once Upon a Time: The Storytelling Card Game is a collaborative storytelling game for 2–6 players, with a playing time of about 30 minutes. Players create a fairy-tale story together using cards that show familiar elements from fairy tales.

One player takes the role of the Storyteller, using the ingredients on their cards to shape the narrative. Their goal is to guide the plot toward the ending shown on their own card while incorporating the story elements they hold.

The other players are not simply listening. They can use their cards to interrupt the Storyteller and attempt to take over as the new Storyteller. The story therefore develops through shared narration, changing direction as players introduce new elements and seize control of the tale.

The winner is the first player to play all of their cards and finish with their Happy Ever After card. Success depends on bringing the available story ingredients into the narrative while steering the tale toward the required conclusion.

• For 2–6 players
• Approximately 30 minutes of play time
• Story cards featuring typical fairy-tale elements
• Ending cards that provide each player’s desired conclusion

First published in 1993, the game has appeared in several editions. The second edition, published in 1995, expanded the card set, while the third edition, published in 2012, introduced new artwork by Omar Rayyan, a new card set, and a simplified rulesheet.

The box description lists 110 story cards, 55 ending cards, and a rulebook. With its evolving narrative and opportunities to interrupt the storyteller, Once Upon a Time offers a distinctive way to build a fairy tale together.