Shobu: Review

Shobu: Review

Information:

Mechanics: Abstract, Two Players
Player Age: 8+ 

Player Count: 2 Players

Time to Play: 15 - 30 Minutes 
Game Designer: Jamie Sajdak,  Manolis Vranas

Publisher: Smirk & Laughter Games

Year Published: 2019

BGG Weight: 1.80
Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher.

Objective:

Following in true abstract fashion, you want to remove all of your opponents pieces. This will be four stones of the opponents colour from one of the four player boards (only one board needs to be controlled but you will end up using them all).

Setup:

The setup will follow the image below.
One player will control all black stones across the four boards, where the other player will control all white stones.
Each player will have one light and one dark board in front of them and the four will be divided by a rope.

How to Play:

Players will take two actions on their turn; one passive move and one aggressive move. This is how the rope comes into play. The passive move must occur on one of the two boards on that players side of the rope. This movement can consist of only one or two spaces in any direction, although it cannot move to an already occupied space. Remember this move is passive, no one gets attacked yet. The use of the rope only matters during the passive movement, the aggressive movement can occur on either side of the rope.

The aggressive move is the second move of a turn and will mirror exactly what the passive move does. Therefore, this move must follow the same direction and must be moved an equal amount of spaces as the passive movement.
Two changes occur with this move, firstly the movement has to occur on the opposite coloured board than what the passive move was made on. For example, if you made your passive movement on the light board in front of you, then the aggressive mirror movement will occur on one of the other dark boards. Secondly, you can push your opponents stones either onto another space or off the board completely. You cannot push your own stones; only the opponents, and you may only push one stone at a time so if there is a stone directly behind one you are trying to push then it will not move.
This aggressive pushing movement is how you will achieve your highly sought after victory, by pushing the opposing stones off the board completely. Play will continue in this way until one player has successfully cleared one of the four boards of all opposing stones.

Final Thoughts:

Pros:
- This abstract game feels like a instant classic.
- Simple rules to teach but hidden depth and tactical decisions.
- The game already has lasting good components.

Cons:
- The game could lend itself to veteran players always winning over newer players.

'Shobu' feels like a classic abstract in the field of mancala or chess. It has a simple ruleset but is the kind of game that has layers of hidden depth, the games are always close and the boards are unclattered allowing players to plan ahead and often lead to worthwhile victories. This is one of those games that will be played in multiple succession without a clear winner until the end. For all these reasons above, Shobu has earned a Go-to Golden Game Seal.

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Smirk and Laughter Games
Shobu on BGG
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