By: Mindware Players: 2-4 Ages: 6+ Time: Up to 45 mins
Qwirkle is a tile-laying puzzle game that takes a lot of inspiration from dominoes but adds its own twist to gameplay. It has been awarded the ‘Major Fun Award’ and the ‘National Parenting Center’s Seal, highlighting its recognition for quality and family appeal. The game includes 108 wooden tiles, each painted with different shapes and colors, providing a tangible sense of the game’s physical quality. Instead of dots, tiles are printed with one of six different shapes in one of six different colors. Players will create branching lines from their tiles to form a grid and will score more points for the longer columns and rows they create. The objective of the game is to try and score big by creating a line where every shape is the same but a different color, or every color is the same but a different shape. This scores you a “Qwirkle”.
Set-up
As there is no board with Qwirkle set-up time is minimal. The only thing that needs to be done is to make sure everyone has a starting hand of tiles. The game comes with over one hundred tiles, all of which will be one of six different shapes and one of six different colors. At the start of the game, these are placed in a bag and shuffled. Players then blindly take six tiles each that will act as their starting hand, but must keep this hidden from everyone else. The player who has the most of one color or one shape in their hand starts the game. If there’s a tie, the oldest player goes first.
How To Play Qwirkle Board Game
When a player takes their turn they can either lay a single tile or more than one as long as each tile in that line shares the same shape or color, aiming to score points by creating lines of matching colors or shapes. The player starting the game and creating the grid has a big advantage in having a blank canvas to work with. They can lay any tiles they wish as long as they follow the above criteria. Each player on their turn will then add to the grid by playing one or more tiles. However, tiles placed by a player must connect to existing tiles that have already been played. Once a player has laid their tiles, they then draw just as many from the bag to replenish their hand and bring it back to six. If a player cannot play anything from their hand or just plain doesn’t like their tiles they can choose to exchange them instead of taking their regular turn. They first set aside any number of tiles they wish, draw the same number from the bag, and then mix their discarded tiles back into the bag to replace their newly drawn ones, scoring no points for this action. The play then moves to the next person.
Players keep track of their scores as play progresses. Each tile played is worth one point, but players will score additional points for all the tiles in the same line, including existing tiles on the board, along with the tiles that were just played. There are a few opportunities for players to score big if they lay their tiles strategically. If a player can lay tiles along multiple lines, they will score a point for the tiles they placed as well as the tiles in the lines they added to that were already on the grid. Additionally, if a player can create a line of six tiles that are the same shape or color, this will score that player an extra six points on top of any points they would normally receive, plus bonus points for completing a Qwirkle. Lastly, when a player places their final tile and there are none left to draw from the bag, they will score six extra points for being the first to play all of their tiles.
Players continue to play, draw, and exchange tiles until the bag is empty, which signifies the game is nearly over. When there are no more tiles to draw and a player places their last tile the game ends. Whoever scored the most points is declared the winner!
As you can see, Qwirkle’s rules are very simple which equally makes the game very accessible. Even people who wouldn’t normally consider themselves ‘gamers’ would have no trouble with picking this up, learning it quickly, and playing it casually now and again. Alongside its fun gameplay, there are a couple of aspects to the game that should appeal to certain demographics.
Qwirkle is aimed at both adults and children alike, with the minimum recommended age for players being six years old. Qwirkle is one of those games where kids actually learn a lot more than they realize. Whilst it’s not an educational game, there are a few areas the game helps to develop. At its core, the game is about recognizing colors and shapes and matching them up appropriately. This is a fundamental skill that, whilst some children may be familiar with, will help refine it with others and in turn aid them with what they learn in school. It also introduces slightly more complicated concepts like understanding probabilities and deductive reasoning. Understanding what other players may do and what tiles they might have in their hands plays into being able to rationalize why you’ll be making the move you are. It’s a tactic that comes into effect more with games for older players, but exposing children to this and letting them try and figure out what could be the right moves provides more depth to the game for them.
I would say that six years is definitely the youngest that kids should tackle this game. From personal experience, even though younger children might find this fun, it’s from six or seven years and up that kids will really understand the strategic side of the game.
Speaking of which, for such a simple game, it offers quite a bit more than you might think in the way of strategic gameplay. Understanding when to play certain tiles can make a big difference between you or your opponents scoring big. Although longer lines will garner you more points, sometimes placing one or two tiles in a critical location could score you just as many and stop the next player from getting any points on their turn. Picking tiles randomly is also (literally) luck of the draw and can throw plans into disarray, so players will need to stay adaptable and think on their feet each turn. As gameplay progresses and the grid grows larger, it can become difficult to know what move to make. Although players can exchange tiles to compensate for this, they sacrifice their turn at the same time. When it comes around to them again there’s a chance that any plans they had a few minutes ago may be out the window!
Summary
Simple rules
Easy to set up
Great for all ages
Strategic depth
Can take it anywhere
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Final Verdict: A Fun Game for Family Game Night
Qwirkle Board Game is a great puzzle game that’s light on rules, simple to set up, and offers a surprising amount of strategic depth. Almost anyone will be able to grasp the concept quite quickly and there’s something that will appeal to players of all ages. Not only is the game straightforward enough for younger players to enjoy, but it also incorporates mechanics that aid in their development: color and shape matching, critical thinking, decision making, and reasoning for example. For older players, it offers a fun strategic experience where winning is based partly on luck and partly on how well you utilize your tiles, not just to score big, but to prevent others from doing so too. A great game all around!
Also Read: 11 Best Deck Building Board Games
If you liked this…
If you’re a fan of strategy or puzzle games, below are some games similar to Qwirkle that you might also enjoy:
Qwirkle Cubes: Qwirkle but with cubes rather than tiles. Each cube has one of the six shapes on it. Roll the cube if you’re not happy with the shape you have. A big mix of luck and skill.
Blokus: Take turns placing Tetris-shaped pieces on a board, but make sure only their edges touch. Easy to learn but tricky when the board starts to fill up.
Azul: A beautiful tile drafting and placement game. Understanding where and when to lay your tiles is crucial in order to score big and line up a row of five different tiles.
Sequence: Lay down cards and claim the matching spaces on the board with chips. Work together as a team and be the first to get five matching cards in a row.
Alhambra: Use tiles to create the biggest and most glorious complex you can. Each turn players draw tiles and use them to create a larger city with each turn.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the ideal number of players for Qwirkle?
A: Qwirkle Board Game can be played with 2 to 4 players. The game dynamics can change with the number of players, but it remains engaging and fun regardless.
Q: How long does a typical game of Qwirkle last?
A: A typical game of Qwirkle lasts maybe an hour, but this can vary depending on the number of players and their familiarity with the game.
Q: Can Qwirkle be played competitively?
A: Yes, while Qwirkle is great as a casual family game, its strategic elements also make it suitable for more competitive play.
Q: Are there any expansions or variations to the standard Qwirkle game?
A: Yes, there are variations like Qwirkle Cubes and travel versions available, providing different challenges and ways to enjoy the gameplay.
Q: How educational is Qwirkle?
A: Although not designed as an educational game, Qwirkle helps develop skills such as color and shape recognition, strategic thinking, and problem-solving.
Q: Is there a digital version of Qwirkle available?
A: Yes, there is a digital version of Qwirkle available on various platforms, allowing you to play with friends or against the computer.
Q: Does Qwirkle have too many rules, making it difficult to learn?
A: No, Qwirkle does not have too many rules, making it easy to learn and accessible for players of all ages. Its simplicity is one of its charms, allowing for strategic play without being bogged down by complicated rules.