Blokus
Overall Rating: 9/10
Age: 7+
GLAM Age Range: 7-Adult
Number of Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30 min
Publisher: Mattel
Complexity: Low
Available At: Amazon.com
Quick Take: A spacial strategy game that is simple to learn and compelling for all ages. It feels like an instant classic. If you enjoyed Othello while growing up then you will love this game. The official play time is 30 minutes but this can vary depending on how many players you have in the game and their thinking time required before making a move. We generally finish within 20 minutes.
How to Play: Try to play as many tiles of your color as possible. You start in a corner and then take turns making plays and the only rule is that each of your pieces must only touch another one of your pieces by the corner. Once no one can play any more tiles the game is over and you count up the number of pieces you have left. The lowest number wins!
Variations: I've been playing this with my 3 year old lately and it works well as long you slightly alter the game. Instead of having to have his pieces only touch at the corner, if they're touching at all we call it good. This game is great at developing spacial awareness in young ages, it's a lot of fun watching him figure out how to make the different shaped pieces fit on the board. I do not recommend letting a younger child play in this manner with a sibling unless the sibling is incredibly patient and kind.
Similar Games To Check Out: Latice, Kingdomino, Connect 4, Labyrinth