Niya

By Blue Orange Games
Price $12.99
Age 8+

For such a graceful game, vigilance and cold-hearted stealth go a long way towards winning. You and your opponent each represents one of two clans competing for power at court in Classical Japan. The playing field consists of 16 garden tiles in a 4 X 4 grid. Each player has 8 clan tokens and takes turns replacing one garden tile with one of their tokens. A player is limited to replacing a tile that shares a symbol in common (each garden tile contains two symbols) with the tile that was just removed. Thus, where you place your token determines your opponent's options on their next move. Any of the following will win you the game: 1) get 4 of your tokens in a row 2) create a 2 X 2 square of your tokens, or 3) block your opponent from making any legal moves. For example, if you remove a garden tile whose two elements are both the last of their kind on the board, your opponent has nowhere to go and loses. By assessing the playing field carefully, it is possible to steer your opponent towards such a demise without them seeing it coming. But always watch your back. Otherwise, it is you who may find yourself surprised! For 2 players.