Linja (2003)

About this game

Both players start with six pawns in their base and with one pawn in each of the six spaces between both bases. The goal of the game is to place your pawns in the opponent's home base or as near as possible to it. During a turn, a player has one move that consists of first moving one pawn one space towards the other player's base. Then, he can choose to move any of his pawns as many spaces as the number of pawns that were in the space that the first pawn was moved into. The game ends when the sets of pawns have passed each other. Game components are red and black wooden pawns and seven bamboo sticks to create the playing field.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 1.9/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 8 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.