Azul (board game)
{{Short description|Abstract strategy board game}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Azul (board game)}}
{{Infobox game
| name = Azul
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| image = File:Picture_of_Azul_game_box.jpg
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| designer = Michael Kiesling
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| illustrator = Philippe Guérin, Chris Quilliams
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| publisher = Plan B Games
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| date = 2017
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| players = 2–4
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| playing_time = 30–45 minutes
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Azul (Portuguese and Spanish for "blue") is an abstract strategy board game designed by Michael Kiesling and released by Plan B Games in 2017. Based on Portuguese tiles called azulejos, in Azul players collect sets of similarly colored tiles which they place on their player board. When a row is filled, one of the tiles is moved into a square pattern on the right side of the player board, where it garners points depending on where it is placed in relation to other tiles on the board.{{cite book |last1=Goodridge |first1=Michelle |last2=Rohweder |first2=Matthew J. |author-link= |date= November 15, 2021|title=Librarian's Guide to Games and Gamers: From Collection Development to Advisory Services |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=243CEAAAQBAJ|location= |publisher= Bloomsbury Publishing|page= |isbn=9798216110958}}
Gameplay
From two to four players collect tiles to fill up a 5x5 squares player board.{{cite web | url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/09/its-time-for-some-game-theory-with-the-beautiful-a.html|title = It's Time for Some Game Theory with the Beautiful Azul| work = Paste Magazine|date = September 28, 2017 | accessdate = December 24, 2017 | first = Keith | last = Law |authorlink=Keith Law (writer)}} Players collect tiles by taking all the tiles of one colour from a repository, or from the centre of the table, and placing them in a row, taking turns until all the tiles for that round are taken.{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/dec/15/roll-it-the-azulejo-way-1728524.html| title = Roll it the azulejo way| work = The New Indian Express | date = December 16, 2017 | access-date = December 24, 2017| first = Arjun | last = Sukumaran}} At that point, one tile from every filled row moves over to each player's 5x5 board, while the rest of the tiles in the filled row are discarded.{{cite web | url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/12/the-10-best-board-games-of-2017.html|title = The 10 Best Board Games of 2017| work = Paste Magazine|date = December 17, 2017 | accessdate = December 26, 2017 | first = Keith | last = Law }} Each tile scores based on where it is placed in relation to other tiles on the board.{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/11/the-best-board-games-we-played-at-pax-unplugged/| title = The best board games we played at PAX Unplugged| work = Ars Technica | date = November 24, 2017 | accessdate = December 24, 2017| first = Nate | last = Anderson}} Rounds continue until at least one player has made a row of tiles all the way across their 5x5 board. Additional points are awarded at the end of the game for each complete row or column, and for each instance of all five tiles of the same colour being collected.
The basic game dictates where tiles of each color go on their player board, while an advanced version allows players to place them anywhere.{{cite web | url=https://nerdist.com/article/build-a-gorgeous-mosiac-fit-for-a-king-on-your-tabletop-in-azul/| title = Build A Gorgeous Mosaic Fit for a King on Your Tabletop in 'Azul'| work = Nerdist | date = October 17, 2017 | accessdate = December 24, 2017| first = Raf | last = Cordero}}
Reception
Keith Law, writing for Paste Magazine, said "The theme doesn't really tie into or matter for the game play, but the artwork is just fantastic and...will give Azul a ton of shelf appeal in a market where maybe publishers don't pay as much attention to that aspect of marketing."
Nate Anderson of Ars Technica described it as "an ideal weeknight game, or a game night opener, or a family title."{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/07/review-azul-board-game-of-the-year/|title=Review: Azul, board game of the year?|work=Ars Technica|date = July 28, 2018|access-date=2018-11-22| first = Nate | last = Anderson|language=en-us}} Wirecutter described it as having "slightly tricky rules" but is "easy to play" with "beautiful art".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/board-games-for-adults/|title=The best beginner board games for adults|last1=Perling|first1=Anna|last2=Austin|first2=James|work=The Wirecutter|publisher=The New York Times|date=9 December 2019|access-date=12 November 2021}}
Emily VanDerWerff, writing for Vox, said "Azul has made the leap from hardcore hobbyist circles to the shelves of Target and other stores where it might be selected by grandmas shopping for their grandkids...absolutely every aspect of playing the game is at once instantly understandable and agreeably fun – right down to how those tiles feel in your hand."{{Cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/12/22/18139999/best-board-game-2018-azul|title=The confoundingly simple yet deep design of Azul, the best board game of 2018|work=Vox|date = December 22, 2018| access-date=2018-12-28| first = Emily | last = VanDerWerff |language=en-us}}
Awards and nominations
Azul has won a number of board gaming awards and received numerous nominations:
- 2018 Spiel des Jahres award{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/07/2018s-board-game-of-the-year-award-goes-to-azul/|title = 2018's "Board Game of the Year" award goes to… Azul!| work = Ars Technica|date = July 23, 2018 | accessdate = August 23, 2018 | first = Nate | last = Anderson }}{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-board-games-gurus-offerings-include-trump-nazis/|title = German board games guru's offerings includes Trump, Nazis| work = Times of Israel|date = December 26, 2018 | accessdate = December 28, 2018 | first = Michelle | last = Fitzpatrick }}
- 2018 Origins Award for Best Family Game and Fan Favorite{{cite web |url=https://magicvalley.com/entertainment/games/fun-and-games-at-origins/article_b4e74ee4-9527-537c-913c-473536465970.html|title = Fun and Games at Origins 2018| work = Twin Falls Times-News|date = July 31, 2018 | accessdate = August 23, 2018 | first = Jason | last = Dean }}
- 2018 Dice Tower Award for Best Family Game{{cite web |url=https://www.dicetower.com/dice-tower-awards/2017|title = Dice Tower Awards 2017| work = Dice Tower|date = July 6, 2018 | accessdate = November 16, 2018 | first = Michael | last = Young }}
- 2018 As d'Or – Jeu de l'Année Winner{{cite web |url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/finistere/quimper/jeux-de-societe-il-y-en-a-pour-tous-les-gouts-21-12-2018-12168903.php|title = Jeux de société. Il y en a pour tous les goûts | work = Le Telegramme|date = December 21, 2018 | accessdate = December 28, 2018 | first = Loeiza | last = Larvor }}
- 2018 Mensa Select Certification{{Cite web|url=https://mensamindgames.com/about/winning-games/|title=Winning games|website=American Mensa's Mind Games|access-date=2018-04-24}}
- 2017 Meeples' Choice Nominee{{Cite news|url=https://opinionatedgamers.com/2018/06/23/2017-meeples-choice-award-winners/|title=2017 Meeples Choice Award Winners|date=2018-06-23|work=The Opinionated Gamers|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en-US}}
- 2017 Cardboard Republic Architect Laurel Winner{{Cite news|url=http://www.cardboardrepublic.com/articles/laurels/the-laurels-best-architect-games-of-2017|title=The Laurels: Best Architect Games Of 2017|date=2018-03-16|work=The Cardboard Republic|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en-US}}
- 2017 Golden Geek Best Family Game of the Year{{cite web | url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/14/17117260/the-best-board-games-of-2017-board-game-geek-golden-geek|title = The best board games of 2017, as chosen by the Board Game Geek community| work = Polygon|date = March 14, 2018 | accessdate = March 17, 2018 | first = Charlie | last = Hall }}
- 2017 Golden Geek Board Game of the Year Runner-up
Sequels and ''Azul'' series
File:Azul - Stained Glass of Sintra.jpg
In late 2018, Plan B Games released a second title in the Azul line, Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra, which utilised the same tile-drafting mechanism, and required players to match vertical patterns on two sided stained-glass window panes on the player boards. A movement pawn was added which placed additional restrictions on which pane a player could fill on any given turn, adding to the game's complexity.{{cite web | url=http://www.wuwm.com/post/top-games-gift-2018#stream/0| title = Top Games To Gift in 2018 | work = WUWM | date = December 11, 2018 | accessdate = December 28, 2018| first = James | last = Lowder}}
A third game in the series, Azul: Summer Pavilion, was released in late 2019. It again utilised the same tile-drafting mechanism but introduced a wild colour which changed from round to round, and saw players collecting diamond-shaped tiles to create star patterns.{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2019/oct/26/potential-winners-at-spiel-this-year-2053046.html| title = Potential winners at SPIEL this year | work = The Indian Express | date = October 26, 2019 | accessdate = November 11, 2019| first = Arjun | last = Sukumaran }} Leah Williams from Kotaku complimented the components, strategy, accessibility, and engagement, but critiqued the scalability for party settings.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-11 |title=Azul: Summer Pavilion Is Smarter, Brighter And More Fun Than The Original |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/06/azul-summer-pavilion-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611050406/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/06/azul-summer-pavilion-review/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 11, 2021 |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=Kotaku Australia |language=en-AU}}
A fourth game, Azul: Queen's Garden, was released in 2022. Diverging the most from its predecessors, it featured a heavily modified variant of the original tile-drafting mechanism, and significantly increased the complexity of the pattern matching – with hexagonal tiles now having combinations of colours and symbols which could be separately matched for points.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-22 |title=Azul: Queen's Garden -lautapelin arvostelu ＞ Lautapeliopas |url=https://www.lautapeliopas.fi/peliarvostelut/azul-queens-garden/ |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=Lautapeliopas |language=fi}} A review from Lautapeliopas praised the sequel's replayability, charm, and components, despite criticising the theme and interaction.
A fifth title, Azul Duel, was released in 2025. Designed specifically for two players, it featured the similar pattern building to the original game, but with additional tactical options during the tile draft.{{cite web|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/431038/azul-duel|title=Azul Duel|publisher=boardgamegeek|accessdate=20 February 2025}}
There have been two expansions in the series: Azul: Crystal Mosaic, an expansion to the original game; and Azul: Glazed Pavilion, an expansion to Summer Pavilion.{{cite web|url=https://www.justpushstart.com/2021/06/azul-glazed-pavilion-expansion-review/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804163723/https://www.justpushstart.com/2021/06/azul-glazed-pavilion-expansion-review/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 4, 2021|title=Azul Glazed Pavilion Expansion Review|date=8 June 2021 |accessdate=16 February 2022|publisher=Just Push Start}} A limited edition confectionary-themed reskin of the original game called Azul: Master Chocolatier was released in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.gameshub.com/news/reviews/azul-master-chocolatier-review-strategy-board-game-32678/|title=Azul: Master Chocolatier review – A delicious treat|date=31 October 2022|author=Leah J. Williams|accessdate=26 December 2022|publisher=Gameshub}} There is also the stand-alone game 5211: Azul, which rethemed the abstract card game 5211 into the style of the original Azul.{{cite web|url=https://moonshotgamestore.com/collections/azul-expansions|title=Azul & Expansions|accessdate=16 February 2021|publisher=Moonshot Games}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{BGG|230802|Azul}}
- Dice Tower review of [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukn_UDfoODI Azul]
- I Play Red walkthrough of [https://iplayred.co.uk/games/azul/walkthrough Azul]
{{Spiel des Jahres}}
{{Deutscher Spiele Preis winners}}
Category:Board games introduced in 2017
Category:Origins Award winners
Category:Spiel des Jahres winners