Blokus is an excellent spatial game for the whole family that has won awards around the world for Best Mind Game. In an effort to pull the kids (and maybe some of the adults) away from the different screens in the house (i.e. computer screen, television screen, et al.), my wife and I are constantly in search of different types of board games to bring the family together. Blokus falls into a nebulous board game genre of “abstract strategy” games since there are no soldiers or missiles to stockpile and attack with but there are plenty of “offenses” taking place as each player tries to command the board.

Each player begins the game with an assortment of geometric shapes. One player has all the red shapes, one has all the green shapes, etc. Players take turns deploying pieces to a grid-board in such a way that the piece touches a same-colored piece at one or more corners, but not along any edge. Once the board is mostly filled and no one can make a legal play, the game ends and the person whose remaining pieces have the smallest total area wins. Pretty simple, premise. Reminds me of a couple different ways you can play dominoes - which is another favorite game at our house.

In short, if your child understands what it means for two shapes to touch at a corner, and to touch along an edge, then your child will be able to grasp this game. Sure as the board shrinks you may need to help guide them as to what their options are - but I think it’s fair to say that happens with most board games (yeah, and before you know it they’re beating the pants of you!).

Games last about ten to fifteen minutes so even if you have young ones with limited attention spans you maybe able to go two out of three if they start beating the pants off you. This game offers ample opportunity for kids to learn and exercise strategic and tactical thinking skills. The game’s biggest drawback is that it plays best with four players, but you can play with two players by doubling up colors, or with three players by using a neutral color.

(Blokus Via FunAgainGames.Com)