Wallpapering a wall with tiles? My initial skepticism about Azul quickly faded. Who wouldn't raise an eyebrow at a game centered on tiling a wall? Yet, with an open mind, I dove in. My husband Frank and I first learned the rules together, playing a two-player game to prepare for our family night with kids Luc and Lotte. Read on for our honest experiences in this detailed review.
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Right off the bat, Azul has earned a permanent spot in our collection. It's a refreshing break from building with Lego or assembling jigsaw puzzles. In this review, we'll explain why, starting with the rules and objective of this engaging family game.
At its core, Azul is about scoring the most points to win—not just being the first to finish. This sets it apart from many games we've played. Beyond your personal tiling strategy, you must track opponents' progress. Before triggering the endgame by filling a row on your wall, check scores—highest total wins.
This nuance elevates Azul, adding layers of strategy and tension we love.
The rules are straightforward once grasped:
Play proceeds in rounds:
Repeat rounds until a player fills a horizontal wall row, ending the game after final scoring.
The simple rules hooked us immediately—perfect for younger players like our kids. While easy to learn, mastering strategy for maximum points is the real challenge, which keeps it replayable.
We've played multiple times, and optimal strategies still elude me. Rushing to end the game by completing a wall row too soon? A costly mistake.
Frank crushed me in our first game with bonus points, but I was hooked for rematches. Luc and Lotte picked it up fast too. Luc grumbled over low scores, but Lotte dominated effortlessly, proving these games create memorable family evenings. Azul now leads our shelf rotation!
Have you tried Azul? What are your thoughts?
