Running Late
About Running Late
Running Late is a free online card-based bluffing game where you arrive at work late yet again and have to talk your way out of trouble. The boss is waiting at your desk, coffee in hand, and wants the whole story, so you build an excuse chain out of ridiculous cards like traffic jams, pigeon negotiations, weather balloons, and a dog that shows no remorse. The more absurd your story, the more points you earn, but a boss with a sharp memory is quick to notice a recycled excuse.
The catch is that every card locks in facts about your story. If you say you took the bus and then blame a flat tire, the boss catches the contradiction, a red stamp slams down, and your credibility takes a hit. Keep your credibility above zero by staying consistent from day to day, because at zero you are fired.
Controls
| Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Add a Card to Your Excuse Chain | Left Mouse Click / Tap on a Card |
| Answer the Boss's Follow-Up | Left Mouse Click / Tap on an Answer |
| Redraw Your Hand | Click / Tap the New Excuses Button |
| Tell the Truth | Click / Tap the Tell the Truth Button |
Building an Excuse Chain
Each day begins with a note from management, such as a demand for a good story, and three empty slots labeled Reason, Complication, and Finale. You fill them by picking cards from the row of excuses along the bottom, with each card showing a short story, a few tags such as home, car, or rain, and a star rating that hints at how absurd it is. Choosing cards whose tags fit together keeps your story believable, while picking clashing cards sets you up for a contradiction later.
The Boss's Follow-Up Questions
Once your chain is complete, the boss asks a follow-up, like how exactly you got to the office in the end, and offers several possible answers. Some answers match the facts your cards already established, while others quietly contradict them, so reading your own story carefully matters more than picking the funniest reply. A good answer earns points and may even fix a little credibility, while a slip costs you.
Credibility, Points, and Jokers
The time card at the top of the screen tracks your day number, your score, a joker count, and a credibility bar that starts at 100. At the end of a successful day, a memo shows the points you earned, including a bonus for absurdity, along with the credibility you recover before the next day starts. Two optional buttons give you extra control: New Excuses redraws your hand for a small point cost, and Tell the Truth uses your joker, and each can be used once per run.
Tips for Surviving the Week
- Read the tags at the bottom of each card before choosing, and pick cards that share a place or object so your story stays consistent.
- Save your New Excuses redraw for a hand where no cards seem to fit together.
- Avoid reusing the same excuses day after day, since the boss remembers recycled stories.
- Take a moment to compare the follow-up answers against your cards before you tap one.
How to Play Running Late
- Clock in — Press Clock In and Start to begin your first day of excuses.
- Pick three cards — Choose a Reason, a Complication, and a Finale to build your story.
- Face the follow-up — Answer the boss's question without contradicting your cards.
- Use your options — Redraw your hand or tell the truth when you are stuck.
- Survive the day — Earn points and recover credibility before moving on.
- Keep going — Move to the next day and keep your credibility above zero.
Developer
Running Late is developed and published by Book4ua, available to play for free on OnlineGames.io with no download or account required. The game runs in-browser and is compatible with iOS and Android mobile devices.
More Games Like This
If you enjoy the funny choices of Running Late, try Boys vs Girls for another comedy story where your decisions shape the outcome, or browse the full collection of free crazy games on OnlineGames.io.
