2 – 4 Players (Though solo rules can be found here, and there is a solo variant video below), 30 – 45 Minutes playing time, Ages 8 and up. While Azul scores in the high 7’s on Board Game Geek, it’s even more impressively sitting in the Top 5 ranked Abstract game and Family game. Players just love the balance of simplicity, interaction, and puzzle. It is beautiful, and the components are well crafted. You can play this game solo, check out the video below for some cool variants. Manufacturer: Plan B Games. Categories: Abstract Strategy and Renaissance. Game Mechanics: Drafting, End Game Bonuses, Pattern Building, Set Collection, Tile Placement, and Turn Order: Claim Action.
Azul. Introduced by the Moors, azulejos (originally white and blue ceramic tiles) were fully embraced by the Portuguese when their king Manuel I, on a visit to the Alhambra palace in Southern Spain, was mesmerized by the stunning beauty of the Moorish decorative tiles. The king, awestruck by the interior beauty of the Alhambra, immediately ordered that his own palace in Portugal be decorated with similar wall tiles. As a tile-laying artist, you have been challenged to embellish the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora.
In the game Azul, players take turns drafting colored tiles from suppliers to their player board. Later in the round, players score points based on how they’ve placed their tiles to decorate the palace. Extra points are scored for specific patterns and completing sets; wasted supplies harm the player’s score. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
