Blokus
Designed by: Bernard Tavitian
Blokus is an extremely simple game that the very young can grasp quickly, but offers some subtlety in play.
Each player is given a set of coloured tetris-type pieces that, on their turn, they place on the board, which is a grid of squares. There are two rules: each player must begin in a corner of the board, and any subsequently-played pieces have to touch one of their previously-played pieces on the corner only.
They may not play alongside their own pieces, although they can play alongside anyone else’s. So as the game continues everyone’s pieces will find themselves sneaking past each other, looking for gaps at the corners to break into new spaces.
The game continues until nobody can take a turn anymore, and the winner will be the player with the fewest ‘squares’ left, each piece being made up of a number of them. Thus if I have two large pieces left your three or four smaller pieces may still give you the win.
Sam says
Fun game to play with kids but also can be a mini battle royale between adults. Simple, but kind of moreish.
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Take That!
Blocking the paths of other players is part of the game, but finding ways through the increasing mesh of colours is really rewarding.
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Fidget Factor!
Almost none
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Brain Burn!
Very little. Even the youngest of players shouldn't take too long to find a way to play if there is one on the board.
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Again Again!
The simpleness of the game and random shapes of the pieces make it very accessible.
