Addictive - Block or be Blocked! (Green Board Games Blokus)

Member Name: rachelwestall

Product:	Green Board Games Blokus
Date:	07/11/08 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quick and easy to play

Disadvantages: None!

Blokus, by The Green Board Game Company, is fantastic strategy game for all the family - the only trouble is, that it's addictive! This colourful strategy game has twice been voted game of the year and is brilliant fun for one to four players

The game

The rules can be mastered in a flash, it is most definitely easy to learn. Once you've played it a couple of times you'll be hooked.

The aim of the game is to cover as much of the board as you can with your coloured pieces. You have to connect as many of your pieces as possible, but they are only allowed to touch at the corners. It is a tactical game - you need to expand your own territory whilst blockading your opponents.

There are 84 game pieces, in four colours - red, blue, green and yellow. Every piece is a different shape. You place your pieces on a raised plastic gameboard that is marked with 400 sqaures. Every move you make counts and no two games are the same. (Except that I never win!!)

When all the payers are blocked and no-one can place any more pieces on the board, the game ends. The winner is the player who has the most number of squares covered on the board (or the least number of squares left).

One of the best things about this game is that on average it takes just 20-30 minutes to play. So when the kids ask if you can play a game you can say "yes!" You don't have to have that awful sinking feeling that you're going to have to spend hours round a game board when there are things to be done!

We bought this as our 'Christmas game'. Myself and my three children became addicted very quickly. I must admit I sometimes try to get out of playing games (mainly because they take too long) but in January last year something strange happened! We would clear up from tea and I would suggest playing a game of Blokus. The first time I did this the children nearly died of shock! Each night for several weeks I would make them play it with me. I have now calmed down a little - probably because I can't beat my eldest son (but I will one day!) - however we still play regularly. We had friends to stay last weekend and they enjoyed it so much that they ordered the game online whilst they were here.

Cost
The best place to get this game seems to be online. I payed about £18.00 a year ago, but Amazon have it for £16.99 with Free P&P

You can also get Blokus Duo ( for two players) which we have, and I saw Blokus 3-D in a shop the other day which I think might be this years 'Christmas game'!

Website
If you vist www.blokus.com you can play the game against the computer, get hints and tips on how to play the game, as well as gaining an international ranking.

Recommended for ages 7 and up.

Summary: A fun game for any age - I would highly recommend it.