Tsuro: Game Review

Tsuro

Tsuro from Wizkids games is a big departure from their collectible strategic
games: a board/tile game easily approachable for nongamers. The game parts
consist of: a board with a 6x6 grid, with two "paths" on each segment of
grid perimeter; 35 "path" tiles, each with four paths with uniform
exit/entrance placement; a "dragon" tile, to determine who draws the first
tile, and mark who gets the next when you run out; and eight pawns.

The goal of the game is simple: stay on the play area. Play begins with the
oldest: play a tile so that your pawn has a new segment of path to follow,
then move your pawn to the current end of your path, then draw a tile.
Multiple pawns can be affected by a single tile, and all are moved to the
end of their path. If the paths of two players intersect, they are out. A
path going to the perimeter is also out. Ties are easily possible, even
three-way ties. I played a three person game where all of us were affected
by the next tile, and no matter the tiles' orientation, two paths
intersected, and the third left the board.

Tsuro is, simply put, a beautiful elegant game, perfect to play with any
number from 2 to 8. My experience says that the game does not lose enjoyment
with less players, as part of the fun is building attractive or complex
paths. The fun of the game is not in winning, but in seeing the paths
develop and followed.

Review by Byron Grimes