Board Game Review: Tsuro

I love TV/Movies/Internet and all the rest of media more than most. But there is more to life than staring at one screen or another. I've been looking for fun things to do with the kids during the winter. We can't go outside as much, it's a pain to deal with all the boots, gloves that keep getting lost etc. In in my search for options outside of technology, it's ironic that technology would actually provide an answer.

Recently, I discovered a Youtube series called Tabletop. Hosted by the former Wesley Crusher, Will Wheaton, the show centers around a group of mildly famous individuals having a game night. I watched all the episodes (20) in one week and lamented that I had no one to play the games with.

Sometimes I am an idiot. I have two awesome roommates would have growing minds that need more outlets for stimulation. So I took the chance to show a few choice episodes to my son and daughter. And they absolutely love it. As we watched some of the easy to understand games, I came to realize that it was very possible that they were ready to try some of them out.

One of our favorite episodes is Ticket to Ride. Our journey down to The Source Comics and Games in Roseville was simply to pick up a copy for ourselves. However, when we got there we found Tsuro and the plan changed. Tsuro is actually even easier to play and we decided that it would be a great first new board game choice.


From the publisher:
A beautiful and beautifully simple game of laying a tile before your own token to continue its path on each turn. The goal is to keep your token on the board longer than anyone else's, but as the board fills up this becomes harder because there are fewer empty spaces left... and another player's tile may also extend your own path in a direction you'd rather not go. Easy to introduce to new players, Tsuro lasts a mere 15 minutes and actually does work for any number from 2 to 8.

15 minutes! And that's not far off. Easy to play. Easy to set up. Easy to explain. Follow the path. Don't let other Dragon's fly into you. Don't fly off the board.   It requires the players to look at their cards and plan ahead. There is a bit of a chess element to it - If I do this - this will happen - etc. Planning ahead. Strategy.

 I loved watching each of my children take on a gaming personality. My daughter would plan ahead and try and stay way from other dragons by sticking to the edges of the board. My son however, chose the offense as defense approach and tried to go right after the other dragons. Hoping to force them off the board or crash into them. Both strategy's proved successful as they each won a game. It was easy to clean up and we look forward to playing again.

For the less than the cost of a dinner out and easily less than a movie, we were able to use our brains a bit and have some fun. I would highly recommend Tsuro as a fun quick game that can be challenging to you and old alike. I give it four flying dragons out of five. If anyone is up for a game, let me know.

Check out the Tabletop episode below. We've already ordered Get Bit!! as well. :)