Four (2012)

About this game

A game inspired by the Four Colour Theorem in which four shapes in four colours are placed in a virtual grid according to four constraints. Players take turns to put pieces on the board, according to the following constraints: Connected: after the first piece, each piece you play must touch at least one other piece orthogonally. Different move: you may not play the same shape or colour that your opponent just played. Not adjacent: you may not place a piece adjacent to a piece of the same shape or colour. Virtual grid: you may not play so that the playing area exceeds 9 squares in any direction. The last player able to place a piece wins. The four shapes used are shown below. Each player receives 16 pieces, four of these in each of the four colors. A total of 32 tetromino pieces are needed. Four won (along with Veletas) the BoardGameGeek Best Combinatorial 2-player Game of 2013 award. BEST COMBINATORIAL 2-PLAYER GAME OF 2013 - RESULTS

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 1.5/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 6 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.