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Azul box art
2017 Ranked #74

Azul

An abstract tile-drafting game where artisans decorate a royal palace to earn the most points. Taking the right colors can complete valuable patterns, but excess tiles become costly waste and turn each draft into a sharp spatial puzzle.

Abstract Abstract Strategy Puzzle End Game Bonuses Open Drafting

Players

2-4

Play time

30-45 min

Age

8+

Complexity

1.76/5

Rating

7.76

Harder to teach Low interaction Deep strategy

Overview

At a glance

Is this game right for my group?

ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.

Teachability 2.3/5

Harder to teach

Replay value 3.9/5

High replayability

Interaction 1.7/5

Low interaction

Player scaling 4.0/5

Scales well

Strategic depth 4.5/5

Deep strategy

See all 5 specifications

How it plays

How does it play?

Introduced by the Moors, azulejos (originally white and blue ceramic tiles) were fully embraced by the Portuguese when their king Manuel I, on a visit to the Alhambra palace in Southern Spain, was mesmerized by the stunning beauty of the Moorish decorative tiles.

Core mechanisms

Key systems that shape the decisions players make.

Read the full game description

Introduced by the Moors, azulejos (originally white and blue ceramic tiles) were fully embraced by the Portuguese when their king Manuel I, on a visit to the Alhambra palace in Southern Spain, was mesmerized by the stunning beauty of the Moorish decorative tiles. The king, awestruck by the interior beauty of the Alhambra, immediately ordered that his own palace in Portugal be decorated with similar wall tiles. As a tile-laying artist, you have been challenged to embellish the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora. In the game Azul, players take turns drafting colored tiles from suppliers to their player board. Later in the round, players score points based on how they've placed their tiles to decorate the palace. Extra points are scored for specific patterns and completing sets; wasted supplies harm the player's score. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

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Videos (19)

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Photos (6)

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Editions

Language and publisher variants currently recorded in the catalog.

Edition Year Language Publisher / Region
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Player resources

Rulebooks, player aids, FAQs, and solo resources.

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Game and edition data

All specifications (5)

Play and group

Players
2–4
Best with
2–4
Play time
30–45 min
Age
8+
Complexity
1.8/5
Credits and catalog connections

Credits

Designers

1
Michael Kiesling

Artists

2
Philippe Guérin Chris Quilliams

Publishers

2
Next Move Games Plan B Games