There are games which leave one in awe of the quality of a game that hits the table and Blockoff falls into that category.
The game is actually one of those that ‘feels’ almost over-produced in a sense.
The entire game is 3D printed, board and pieces, rendered in bright yellow and blue, so it just ‘pops’ on the table. Get this one out at a coffee shop and you are likely to attract some eyes.
Also of note is that the designer Nate Denham was 12 when the game was created – so kudos to the young creator, with a pat on the back to family for supporting the game available through www.blockoff.fun
But what about game play in this abstract strategy offering?
Well, this one sort of fits into the realm of games a step up from simple Xs and Os, but still rather straight forward, with a ruleset you can learn in about 90-seconds.
Players – Blockoff plays two to four -- begin with their pieces in the corners of a 6x6 grid.
On a player’s turn they must complete a move of three without hitting the same space twice (diagonal costs two movement) and then place a tile to block off an opening.
If you cannot complete your three paces worth of movement then your piece comes off the board. The goal is to be the last person with their player piece on the board.
Yep, that’s the whole game.
So some quick math tells you that in a four-player game you are likely getting a maximum nine moves, but playthroughs with two showed games typically end with players boxed in even with open spaces left – they just can’t get to them.
Blockoff is thus quick – and maybe too quick to inspire die hard abstract strategy fans.
But that rather ‘cool’ look, and the easy to-learn rules and quick play do lend themselves to making Blockoff one to recommend as a starter game to introduce younger players to the genre that will take them in time to Othello, Chess, Hive and all the other great abstract strategy games. So, if you have younger gamers coming up, this would look pretty good under the tree in a few months.
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