Arch Rival (1992)

About this game

Arch Rival is a dexterity construction game in much the same vein as Bamboleo. Prior to gameplay, players create an arch that is balanced on a rocking base. First, two arch construction supports are placed on the base. Then thirteen color-coded cube compartments are placed on top of the supports to create an arch. The supports are then removed, so that the compartments support each other in a free-standing arch. Players attempt to place 50 playing pieces of various colors and shapes into the color-coded compartments, without knocking the arch over. On a player's turn, they roll the two dice--one of which tells how many pieces they must place, and the second die tells the color of the compartment into which the pieces must be placed. When 'Arch Rival' is rolled on the color die, one of the player's opponents is allowed to select the color of the required compartment. Players continue placing pieces in turn, until the point where arch can no longer support itself and collapses. The player who causes this to happen loses the game.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 99.
• Rules load. At 1.3/5 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.