Azul (8+)

Introduced by the Moors, "azulejos" (originally white and blue ceramic tiles) were fully embraced the Portugese, 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.

Have you ever wanted to decorate the walls of a royal palace? Well now you can in this colorful and elegant game Azul. Players compete as artisans decorating the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora. But be careful, drafting the correct quantity and style of tiles is important. The most clever of artisans plan ahead to maximize the beauty of their work and their scores. Try not to waste supplies in the process.

To play the game, each player starts with a personal board and a set of player pieces. On their turn, players can take one of the following actions: take tiles: Players select tiles from the factories on the main board and add them to their personal board. Place tiles: Players place tiles from their personal board onto their player board, following specific placement rules. Discard tiles: Players can discard any unplaced tiles back to the main board.

Players score points by placing tiles of the same color in specific patterns on their player board. Players also lose points for unplaced tiles at the end of the round. The game consists of several rounds, and at the end of the game, the player with the most points wins.

Azul is considered a medium-heavy strategy game, with easy to learn rules but a good depth of gameplay. it's a game of pattern building and also a bit of engine building, it's recommended for players who enjoy games with a historical theme and simple mechanics. It's a very popular game among board game enthusiasts and it's not just a game of luck but a game of strategy and decision making.

PDF rules

2-4 players

3-45 minutes playing time

Contents:

• 100 resin tiles
• 4 player boards
• 9 factory displays
• 4 scoring markers
• 1 starting player marker
• 1 linen bag
• 1 rulebook