Cubeo (2016)

About this game

Cubeo is a fast-paced abstract dice game for two players, where no die is rolled. Although this game is referred to as a board game, no board is needed--a flat surface suffices--and a set of twelve 6-sided dice in two colors, six for each player. The main objective of both players is to put dice on the surface, creating a single 2D formation from them, and either block the opponent from performing any valid action, or be the first player to merge two dice with a total value of more than 6. At the beginning, both players put one die on the playing surface, each facing one dot up, with both dice touching along a side, creating the starting formation. Then during each turn, a player can perform one of the following actions: 1. Add a die to the dice formation touching a friendly die - the newly added die cannot touch any of the opponents' dice. 2. Move a die around the perimeter of the existing formation - the die's value determines the number of steps, and may reverse direction while moving. 3. Merge two friendly dice, provided the player has at least 3 dice in the structure - add the value of adjacent dice, and replace one of the dice indicating the total. It is further required that the dice formation stays connected at all times. When a player merges two dice that add up to a value larger than 6, they win. Alternatively, if a player can't perform any action, they lose.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 1.7/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 7 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.