Tsuro - The Game of the Path

Title: Tsuro - The Game of the Path

Developer: Thunderbox Entertainment

Type: Digital Board Game

Platform(s): iOS / Android

# of Players: 1-8 Local & Online

Price: $3.99


Tsuro - The Game of the Path is an award-winning puzzle strategy board game designed by Tom McMurchie and published in 2004. The digital app version is made by Thunderbox Entertainment and is available for iOS and Android.

A game of Tsuro in the app version begins by sliding the top off of the virtual on-screen box. The game board emerges and unfolds, the tiles stack themselves and the gem-like player pieces align themselves in a circle in the center of the board. The player can then slide his gem to a starting position, choose to invite facebook friends to play along, and slide other pieces into spaces provided for the three available ai types if additional ai players are desired. It is all quite an elegant design and works well with the eastern/asian aesthetics of the game. The graphical presentation and subtle eastern influenced music is all very relaxing and zen like. The first time the game is played the player is presented with a tutorial that reveals the simple nature of the game play mechanics.

Quite simply, each player starts with a gem player piece in one of the designated starting positions of their choice located around the perimeter of the game board. Players then take turns drawing a hand of 3 tiles, then rotating one of them to the desired orientation and playing it. Your gem, and any gems on adjacent spaces follow the paths on the played tile. The goal in the base game is to simply stay on the board the longest without being forced off of the edge. Variants on the theme exclusive to the digital version include competitions to get the most loops or the longest path. The game can be played solo comparing your paths to those of friends runs, solo versus ai, or any combination of up to eight human and ai players.

The app version of Tsuro is quite beautifully realized and themed. The controls are simple, intuitive and tactile. The graphical presentation is great yet low impact and well optimized, as the game runs well even on older devices. The combination of the gentle east asian soundtrack and overall presentation make for a relaxing easy to play casual game that can lead to some tricky puzzle situations in the late game. A typical game plays out in 15 minutes or less and is a very entertaining light abstract tactical puzzle experience.

"Many roads that lead to divine wisdom."

Thunderbox Entertainment Tsuro Page: http://thunderboxentertainment.com/tsuro/
Tsuro iOS version on the iTunes App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tsuro/id957124541?mt=8
Tsuro Android version on the Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Thunderbox.Tsuro