Qwirkle

'If only I had a green star... I NEED A GREEN STAR!'

Type: Strategy / Pieces
Players: 2 to 4

Time to explain to others: 1 minute

Time to play: About 20 minutes

Difficulty: To play 1/10, Game difficulty 4/10

Portability: High (it comes with a travel bag (!))
Overall: 9/10

I hadn't yet covered the family of games to which Qwirkle belongs to (because to be honest, I don't own many), the abstract games. For no good reason, I hasten to add, a lot of them are fine and lovely games, and the absence of a narrative universe might even invite proper newbies into the game.

Case and point: my parents. My parents are not huge fans of board games, but they loved Qwirkle. It plays strategic and fast, you end up blocking other players by accident, more than by design, and it it simple and logical.

You have 5 pieces at any time. You play them so that you make a line. That line can be a) a line of same shape in all 6 different colours, or b) All 6 different shapes of the same colour. You cannot repeat either colour or shape in the same line (respectively). You win points for the longest line your piece made. When you make a 6-strong line (a Qwirkle), you get 6 points + 6 bonus.

And this is pretty much it, simplicity being its middle name, if it had one. 

Rui's conclusion: The abstract aspect of it is enticing, you can just relax and just follow the shapes and colours. Really good entry game for young'uns and newbies. A good family game, where everyone could get involved.