Azul may be the most gorgeous game we've ever featured as a game of the month! Azul, made by Plan B Games, is a tile placement game in which players race to earn points by completing horizontal and vertical lines of tiles on their "wall."
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The stunningly colorful game design was inspired by azulejos, a type of decorated ceramic tile introduced to Spain by the Moors and made popular in Portugal by King Manuel I.
About Azul
Azul is an abstract strategy game for 2-4 players. Players transform into tile laying artists, tasked with embellishing the walls of the Royal Palace of Évora in Portugal. The game is played over multiple rounds, divided into the following three phases:
- choosing tiles ("factory offer")
- placing tiles ("wall-tiling")
- prep for the next round.
The object of the game is to collect the most points by creating lines of 5 consecutive tiles. Each line of tiles must contain only one of each type of tile. The game ends when one player has completed a row, but that player is not necessarily the winner. Strategic thinking is required because players can lose points in the wall-tiling phase for any remaining, unused tiles.
Find Azul: Original | Expansion Packs
Why You Should Play Azul
Aside from the fact that the game is a visual delight and the materials lovely to handle, Azul helps with strategic thinking, pattern recognition and visual discernment skills. It is a sophisticated game and kids will really feel like they are playing a "grown-up game."
Plan B Games recommends Azul for ages 8 and up, and I agree with this recommendation. It is definitely a game that adults will enjoy playing just as much as children. In addition, the instructions include game variations so things never get boring.
Azul has won a ton of awards, including the coveted Spiel des Jahres award.
Find Azul: Original | Expansion Packs
More great games of the month that are a feast for the eyes:
- Tsuro, two board games featuring a dragon and a phoenix.
- Ani-gram-it, a card game for kids who love animals
- Forbidden Island, a cooperative game for families
YYC mom says
We love Azul!
K says
We love this game, too! It reminds me of my time in Spain and I love the strategy aspect of it,