Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
Fire, water, earth, wind — these four elements have driven mankind's mythology, philosophy and science for eons. Now, master the power of these primal forces in this abstract game of capture and area control.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Area Majority
Compete to have the strongest presence in areas that award control or points.
Enclosure
Surround spaces or pieces to claim territory, capture, or score.
Grid Movement
Move pieces between adjacent spaces on a regular grid.
Tile Placement
Place tiles to build a shared or personal spatial arrangement.
Read the full game description
Fire, water, earth, wind — these four elements have driven mankind's mythology, philosophy and science for eons. Now, master the power of these primal forces in this abstract game of capture and area control. In Element, players take turns drawing and placing four element stones to encircle opposing sages. Each element has unique properties that players can use to block an opponent's movement. Feed walls of flame, move raging rivers, raise impenetrable mountain ranges, and even bend wind to your command. Transform one element into another with the rule of replacement or sacrifice element stones to help your sage avoid capture. Understanding the subtle, diverse, yet powerful nature of the four elements is key to surrounding your opponent and claiming victory!