Amoeba (1975)

About this game

The board consists of a 7x7 array of plastic squares, each of which has an arc cutting two diagonally opposite corners. The rest of the equipment is a deck of 52 cards showing various closed amoeba-like curves that can be made with the arcs - players get 3 of these to start and are trying to create the curves shown on their cards. On a turn a player gets to rotate any piece except the one last rotated, and if a needed shape is made, the player gets the points shown on the card, a new card, and another turn. The first player to reach 50 points wins. Amoeba has been published as 'Tantalus' in the Ravensburger Casino Series.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 4.
• Rules load. At 1.8/5 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.