Style: Competitive
Players: 2-8
Ages: 8+
Appx time: 15-20 minutes
Contents: 1 game board, 8 dragon marker stones, 35 path tiles, 1 dragon tile, 1 rule book
Publisher: Calliope Games
https://www.calliopegames.com/buy/clp020/tsuro-the-game-of-the-path
Since time began, the Dragon and the Phoenix have guarded over and guided the intertwining paths of life, maintaining the careful balance between the twin forces of choice and destiny. These two powerful beings share the noble task of overseeing the many roads that lead to divine wisdom.
“Build your path through discovery and chance. Quiet your mind. Your journey begins here.”
Introduction
Tsuro is simply one of the most beautiful games I have come across. It is elegant from the Asian dragon design on the game board, to the dragon etchings on the colored player markers, to the simple earth-tone paths of the tiles, and the artistic rice paper insert added for flare.
Description
The rules of Tsuro are extremely simple, but that doesn't necessarily mean the game is simple of you have some stiff competition.
In the set-up, the 35 path tiles are shuffled, each player is then dealt three tiles which they keep hidden from the other players. The remaining tiles are stacked within reach of the players to draw from at the end of their turn. The board is designed displaying a 6x6 grid for tile placement. Along the outer edges of the board, each tile placement square has two white hash marks. Each player selects one of the colored markers and places it anywhere along the outside edge on a hash mark.
Players take 3 actions each turn: Play a path tile, move their dragon marker, and draw a replacement path tile.
Each path tile has four paths with two starting/ending points on each edge. The paths twist, turn, or pass straight connecting one point to another. The player decides which of their three tiles to play, turns it in any direction they choose, and places the tile in front of their marker. They then move their marker following the path they placed in front of it. However, a player may not intentionally place their tile so that their marker will leave the board as long as another move is possible.
If the tile was placed so that the path connects to a path on another tile, the player follows the path to its end even across multiple tiles. If the tile was placed so that a path was created in front of another player's marker, that player's marker is likewise moved to the end of its path.
Any time a player's marker follows its path off the board, that player is eliminated. If it happens that two players markers collide on the same path, both players are eliminated.
When players are eliminated, their remaining tiles are shuffled back into the draw pile. However, there is an Advanced Rules Elimination Bonus too! If using this bonus rule, when a player lays a tile that sends an opponent off the board, they may immediately exchange any or all of the tiles in their hand with those of the eliminated player before shuffling the remainder into the draw pile.
After a player has laid their tile and moved their marker and any other affected markers, they draw another tile and play passes to the next player.
In games of three or more players, if the event arises that there are no more tiles to draw, the Dragon Tile marker is given to that player so that when tiles become available (generally from an eliminated player), they receive the first tile. The Dragon Tile is then passed to the next player awaiting a tile, or set aside until needed again.
When there is only one marker remaining on the board, that player wins. If all of the tiles have been played and multiple markers remain, or if the final markers are eliminated on the same turn, those players tie for the win.
Wrap-Up
One of the fascinating aspects of this game is that it can be played as passively or aggressively as the player desires. You may play tiles passively in an attempt to outlast your opponents (easier with fewer players), or you may aggressively chase your opponents in hopes of sending their markers off the board.
While Tsuro is a beautiful and fun game, it isn't an intense one especially if being played passively. It is still very fun and easy enough that children can grasp the rules though they may not strategize well. It's a great game for family time, for filling in between meatier games, something light to play over coffee, or if you need a game that can accommodate a larger number of people than normal.
Originally posted: 4-12-2020
