Simpei (2005)

About this game

This a "tic-tac-toe" style game by the Japanese company Bandai. It features cute little figures which can be placed on some places of the board head-up and in some others head-down. The objective is to get three in a row, but there are some specific rules governing movement and placement. The name of the game is pronounced as "shim-pay". It was named after the designer, Shimpei Takahashi.

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 8 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.