Martian Backgammon (2001)

About this game

Martian Backgammon is designed using Icehouse Pieces, and is the Icehouse answer to roll-and move race games. Like its namesake, Martian Backgammon is an abstract strategy game with a significant luck component. Two players compete to be the first to get their pieces off of superimposed U-shaped tracks, while capturing enemy pieces and evading capture themselves. It is quick to learn, and is enjoyed by players of varying ages and skill levels. It requires two different colored stashes of Icehouse pyramids, two dice, and a few small objects to define the "board".

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