Pretty much every category of item has at least something on sale for Prime Day at Amazon, but board games are particularly well represented. And if you’re looking for a fun, accessible board game you can teach newcomers to play quickly for a spontaneous game night, look no further than Azul. It also happens to be on sale for $28.99, a nice discount from its $40 MSRP.
Azul Board Game for $28.99
Azul is a tile-laying game from designer Michael Kiesling, that has earned its place as a go-to board game for hardcore and casual players alike. Its appeal lies in its blend of strategic depth and accessible gameplay, making it an obvious choice for game nights with people who don’t devote their entire lives to the hobby.
Players draft colorful tiles representing Portuguese azulejos, which are ceramic tiles used in decorative art. There’s a great tactile aspect to the game, which makes it fun to physically handle and place the tiles to create a mosaic of your own design. There’s a certain satisfaction of watching your pattern unfold as you strategically place each tile. It’s kinda hard to explain until you try it for yourself.
The game also has a mild competitive aspect to it. Players must carefully plan each move to maximize points while strategically denying opportunities to their opponents. There’s something puzzle-like about picking your tiles while also throwing a wrench in the gears of your opponents’ strategy.
Our reviewer, Matt Thrower, said as much in his review of Azul:
What We Said In Our Review
“Between its beautiful presentation, simplicity and depth there’s little doubt that Azul has earned its place as a modern classic. While the tinkering with its formula undertaken by its sequels has created more challenging games, none has captured the fine blend of accessibility and interactivity that makes it special. Despite a lack of moving parts that might make more dramatic or thematic games seem more appealing, it’s a title that should hold plenty of delights for gamers of almost every stripe.”
For more, check out all of our Prime Day coverage.
