Qawale is a board game, published by Gigamic, for two players and offers games of less than 15 minutes.
Modern Connect Four
The game board is simple: a square with spaces where you can place pebbles. Each player has eight pebbles of their own color, and eight neutral pebbles are placed at the corners of the board. The goal? Align four of your pebbles, whether in a row, column, or diagonal.
On your turn, you place one of your pebbles on an existing stack. Then, you take this stack and “sow” each pebble on adjacent spaces. You can change direction, but you cannot go back.
In summary, it’s a modernized Connect Four. Having to sow all the pebbles from a stack adds a nice layer of complexity. You need to visualize several moves at each turn.
Quick and Smooth but also Tactical
What struck me about Qawale is how quick and smooth the game is while having a large tactical component. Every move you make has consequences. It’s a delicate balance to achieve, and Qawale does it well.
Quality Material
Regarding the material, the pebbles and the board are particularly elegant and sturdy, as often in this range of games. It may not be the most important factor for a board game, but it’s a nice touch.
A Solid Gaming Experience
| Qawale is a game that knows what it is: a quick and tactical game. It doesn’t pretend to be the deepest game in the world, but it offers a solid and engaging experience. If you are looking for a game that is easy to learn, quick to play, and complex to master, Qawale deserves your attention. | |
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