The streets of Batish Columbia are still buzzing from the Batiff film festival that just wrapped. You and your colony of fruit‑eating bats drift into the local fruit stall, ready to trade movie impressions while munching on juicy drupes. The bat etiquette is simple: the player who ends a topic gets to start the next, but since these bats love to chatter, you’ll want to speak up before the fruit goes bad.

Bested Another Time turns that scene into a 15‑25 minute card game for 1‑6 players. Each participant manages their hand – deciding which cards to play, keep, or discard – while trying to climb the "ladder" of discussion topics. Passing your turn isn’t just a waste; it grants perks that can speed up your climb. Yet anyone who hasn’t yet climbed can keep playing, even solo, keeping the flow alive when someone bows out of a conversation.

The design is lightweight (weight 1.5/5) and uses traditional‑style cards, making the learning curve gentle. Hand Management forces you to think strategically about when to discard or hold a card, while Ladder Climbing creates a fun race to the top of the talk. Supporting 1‑6 players, it works great as a quick filler between larger games or as a solo pastime on a movie night. If you enjoy fast, thematic games that let you gab a little while you play, Bested Another Time will have you flapping with delight.