Azure: Review
Information:
Mechanics: Abstract, Resource Management, Two-Playe, Race to Points
Player Age: 10+
Player Count: 2 Players
Time to Play: 20 Minutes
Game Designer: Trevor Benjamin, Brett J. Gilbert
Game Artist: Kwanchai Moriya
Publisher: Bitewing Games
Year Published: 2026
BGG Weight: 2.00
Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher.
Introduction:
Azure is a spatial placement abstract game where players race to place strategically to achieve 25 points first. There are only 14 stones per player if a player cannot place a stone whether by lack of available placement or by running out of stones they will lose. The benefit that players have is as long as a stone isn't blocked by a mountain it will provide a discount for any placement being placed in the same row and column. These discounts will stack, creating a lower priority for cards as the game progresses.
Game Anatomy:
Domains:
The game is split into four double-sided domains in colours azure (blue), white, vermillion (red), and black; one for each auspicious beast. Each domain is a three by three grid with a varied selection of boons on each grid and one mountain. Each space will have boons which are either specific coloured cards or points. These boons will award these benefits after the player places a stone on this grid but they will also compile to create the cost of how many cards of the domain's colour need to be discarded for the stone to be placed on this grid.
Wisdom Track:
Don't be fooled, Azure is a spatial puzzle of how to place stones on the grids players want and need. But, at its core is also a race to 25 points. Whenever points are gained through auspicious beasts or placement it is recorded on the wisdom track, when a player reaches 25 points they immediately win.
Mountains and Auspicious Beasts:
Each domain has a mountain and an auspicious beast linked. The mountains will block discounts for stone placement.
The beast will grant their benefit to the player who has the most stones matching that beast's requirement. To first unlock the beast favour the requirement has to be met by at least two stones from one player. For the Azure Dragon and White Tiger the beast is granted to the player with the most stones in the column or row of this beast mountain. The Azure Dragon will grant three points when gained and the White Tiger will grant two points when the player has gained their favour.
Several grids have a snake circle on them, the Black Tortoise favour is gained by the player with the most stones in these locations. Their mountain is removed and the player with favour will replace the mountain with their stone, unblocking the location and granting discounts as normal.
The Vermillion Bird grants the player with the most stones in the vermillion domain. The benefit of the Vermillion Bird is drawing two cards from the hidden deck.
The nature of gaining the favour of these beasts is they will swap and change between players. When a favour is lost the points or benefit gained is also lost with that transition.
Qi Cards:
Qi cards come in the four colours. These cards will need to be discarded to place stones throughout the game.
Setup:
- Create a face-up qi card pile for each colour.
- Then create a hidden card pile by shuffling three of each qi card together.
- From the hidden cards deal the first player two cards and the second player three cards.
- Place the mountain cards on the matching squares on each domain. Place each auspicious beast on their mountain.
- Each player will gain their 14 stones.
- Each player will have their score marker placed next to the wisdom track.
How to Play:
During the game players will take actions back and forth playing stones on a grid that no player has placed on previously, gaining the boons from that location. The winner will either be the player to reach 25 points first or be left standing when the other player cannot place a stone on their turn.
On a turn the player will place a stone by discarding cards matching the colour of the domain placement.
For every stone of the same colour in the row or column the placement cost will be reduced by one card. Players cannot reduce further than a free placement.
The player will gain all for the boons on the grid placement, gaining the cards and/or points. The player will now check if they have gained favour of any auspicious beast as explained in game anatomy.
Final Thoughts:
- Race to points
- Interesting stone placement due to weighing up discount, beast favour and boon benefits
- Quick playing abstract
Azure is an engaging abstract race. Players are placing stones to stay in the game and also race to 25 points. The catch is for each stone placement the player has to spend matching coloured cards equal to the rewards the placement grants. This results in some very expensive placements and the cards are a scarce resource. To lower the cost any stones in the same column or row will reduce the cost by one. This means as players are looking at where to place the stones they are looking for what they can afford, what helps placement on future turns and how to gain the favour of the beasts. This is a fast playing resource management/abstract game that I can easily recommend for a Silver Seal of Approval.
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