Echelon (board game)

Echelon is a question-and-answer game published in 1989 by The Great Games Company, with no credited designer. Players read one of 286 extracts from famous works of fiction and then answer questions about what they have just read, so the game tests memory and understanding of the passage rather than general knowledge, and no previous knowledge is needed to play. Questions are graded for difficulty, beginning with simple either-or answers and working up to real tests of recall. Points are earned for each correct answer, and each player's progress is recorded on a distinctive three-dimensional board whose levels are the echelons of the title. Players also compete for bonus points by being the first to answer at each level, which adds a layer of tactics and timing to what is otherwise a memory exercise. Simpler, edited extracts are included for younger players. The game accommodates two to six players, runs about 45 minutes and is rated for ages 12 and up.