26. Tsuro

In this episode, we see whose path to enlightenment lasts the longest in Tsuro: The Game of the Path!

What is Tsuro? It’s an Asian-inspired game about finding one’s way. The title comes from the Japanese word tsūro, which means “route.” The game board, which is decorated with a richly illustrated phoenix, consists of a 6 by 6 grid of squares. Each player gets an oval-shaped dragon token to mark their progress across the board. There’s a stack of 35 square tiles, each with a different set of paths that connect one side to another. The game starts with each player’s token on the edge of the board, and players take turn laying down tiles in front of their token. Each time they do, their token travels along those paths to one of the four sides of the tile. The goal of the game is to just keep moving. If your path takes you off the edge of the board, you’re out. If your path runs you into another player’s path, you’re out. To win, you need to be the last player standing.

Tsuro is a 2005 game from designer Tom McMurchie published by Calliope Games that handles 2 to 8 players and plays in 15 to 20 minutes. It’s easy to learn, requires no reading or mathematics, and has a high player count, which means it’s perfect for family gatherings with young kids. This episode features two of the kids in my life playing and reviewing Tsuro!