I thought we’d try out a new game from The New York Times called Flashback. It’s a visual-historical puzzle game that tests your historical knowledge—and your ability to make good guesses based on the game’s visuals and historical descriptions of events.
To play the game, you’re first given one ‘clue card’ which is placed on the timeline. This clue card is an anchor point, with every other clue card either taking place before or after. You have to drag the remaining clue cards, one by one, and place them on top (before) or below (after). You are given a visual icon that goes with each one, and a description of the event, but no date until after you place the card.
Incorrect clues are moved the correct location after you make your turn. You receive no points for incorrect clues, and 2 to 5 points for correct ones. A perfect score is worth 28 points. The New York Times editors base clues off of the paper’s past reporting.
In today’s Flashback, we’re given the 1962 event: Francis Gary Powers, a captured U-2 pilot, is freed in the first major prisoner swap of the Cold War (a very relevant clue card given the recent prisoner swap with Russia).
Today’s Flashback Clues:
Before we list the answers, here are three clues to help you with today’s game.
Clue #1 — The Roman Empire is the most ancient civilization in today’s Flashback.
Clue #2 — There are more events that come before the free Clue Card today than after by a fairly wide margin.
Clue #3 — Black and white photos tend to be older than color photos.
Today’s Flashback Answers:
Spoilers ahead, obviously.
- 218 BCE — Hannibal of Carthage crosses the alps with his armies and gives the Romans a run for their money.
- Circa 300 — The Native American Hopewell culture flourishes.
- 1806 — Noah Webster creates the first American dictionary, fixing silly British spelling conventions.
- 1859 — Charles Darwin publishes his theory of evolution.
- 1889 — Vincent Van Gogh paints his most famous painting.
- 1929 — Texas teachers start Blue Cross.
- 1962 — Francis Gary Powers freed.
- 1983 — A French scientist helps identify H.I.V. as the leading cause of AIDS.
- 1992 — Hugo Chavez fails in his coup attempt but wins over voters with a TV speech.
Once you see your stats, there are lots of helpful links to reading material that helps flesh out these stories and the context in which they took place. I love learning more about history, and this feature is pretty cool.
How did you do on your Flashback quiz today? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.
Read the full article here
