PLAYED FOR YOU

Onitama

Sibling Rivalry

Two siblings compete for the title of an Onmyo Master; to win this title they allow that spirits take over their own body and those of their puppets. Five playing pawns for each player are placed on the edge cases of a 5x5 board, each placer faces his pawns. The Onmyo piece of each player is in the middle case of the border row. Two spirit cards are places face-up with each player, a fifth card is placed to the right of the starting player. For each game only five out of 15 cards are used,

The active player chooses one of his two cards and moves one of his pawns accordingly. If a pawn moves into the case of opposing pawn, this pawn is removed. The card that was used is placed to the left of the active player and turned by 180° to face the other player, and the active player takes the card to his right to replace the one he did play. Some of the spirit cards provide special rules - for instance different movements for Onmyo or standard pawn are provided by the ostrich or the frog; the turtle moves one of your own pawns one step forward and forces the Onmyo piece of your opponent to take one step, too. If you cannot make a valid move, you pass, but you must rearrange cards in the same way as if you did play a card. If you defeat the opposing Onmyo pawn or if you can move one of your pawns onto the opposing Onmyo’s starting case, you win.

Onitama is a fascinating little, quick game, somehow also a puzzle, because you know all available movements for the pieces and also the three movements from which you will choose your next two moves. An interesting alternative for fans of abstract games.

Players: 2

Age: 8+

Time: 5+

Designer: Shimpei Sato

Artist: Jun Kondo

Price: ca. 16 Euro

Publisher: Conception / MinimalGames 2014

Web: www.japonbrand.com

Genre: Placement, cards

Users: With friends

Special: 2 players

Version: multi

Rules: en fr jp

In-game text: no

Comments:

Game as well as puzzle

High variability due to using only 5 of 15 cards

Abstract placement mechanism

Attractive components

Compares to:

RRR by One Draw

Other editions:

Currently none

Chance (pink): 0

Tactic (turquoise): 2

Strategy (blue): 2

Creativity (dark blue): 0

Knowledge (yellow): 0

Memory (orange): 0

Communication (red): 0

Interaction (brown): 3

Dexterity (green): 0

Action (dark green): 0