AZTACK

By Blue Orange Games
Price $24.99
Age 7+

The amount of brain power generated during the course of a single game of AZTACK might just be enough to light up a small city. For a quick-moving game that's easy to learn, there's plenty to think about. Players build a temple by stacking inscribed rectangular stones on one another. 12 stones placed face-up on the table form the foundation on which all players build. Each rectangular stone has two glyphs inscribed on it, and each glyph has a color. Players take turns placing one of their stones on top of the temple-in-progress. To place a stone, you and your opponents must follow certain rules, and that's where cleverness and keen observational skills come in. The added stone must bridge the two underneath AND match them by color or glyph. Since each player can see the others' stones throughout the game, players can, with forethought, determine what one another's options are as well as their own. How and where you place a stone can thwart an opponent, or, if you're not careful, benefit him. And of course, you want to be setting yourself up for future moves. When no more stones can be played, the player with the fewest stones left wins the game. For 2 to 4 players.