Welcome to my review of Amazons! If you like games where your brain feels like it’s just run a marathon, you’re in the right place. My friends and I spent plenty of evenings hunched over this board, pretending we were all strategic geniuses (spoiler: we weren’t). This review covers everything from the rules and clever tactics, to how nice the bits feel in your hands. I’ll tell you what makes it great, what made us laugh, and what made us flip the board (metaphorically, I promise). I’ll also point out any flaws, because nobody likes spending cash on a dud. Ready? Let’s get to it!
How It Plays
Setting up
Each player grabs four amazons (not the online kind) and places them on their starting squares, which are pictured on the board. The grid looks like a checkerboard, but don’t worry—you won’t need to know chess to play.
Gameplay
Players take turns. On your turn, move one of your amazons like a chess queen—up, down, sideways, or diagonally, as far as you want. After moving, you must “shoot an arrow” from that amazon, which works just like the move: pick a direction and distance and put a blocker (that’s your arrow) on that square. The arrow blocks off that spot for the rest of the game. You’ll block the board as you go, making everyone’s life harder. It’s fun to watch your friends get trapped after you wall them in. (Sorry, Steve!)
Winning the game
If you can’t move any of your amazons on your turn, you’re out. Last player standing wins. The aim is to claim more territory and outlast your rivals by being clever, sneaky, or just plain mean with your arrows. So plan ahead, but expect chaos!
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for Amazons.
How to Play Amazons: Rules and Core Gameplay Explained
Let’s talk about the rules of Amazons, because if you’re like me, you don’t want to spend your Saturday night accidentally inventing a new game and losing friends. Amazons is a board game that looks simple, but like my attempt at sourdough bread, it gets complicated pretty fast.
The game uses a 10×10 board, which is way bigger than my living room table, so get ready to clear some space. Each player gets four Amazons (no, not the rainforest kind—think fierce chess queens with better cardio) and places them on specific starting spots. Your goal is to block your rival’s Amazons so they can’t move, while your own fearless females roam free like Sunday drivers with nowhere to be.
Turns go like this: First, move one of your Amazons like a chess queen—any number of spaces in a straight line, but you can’t hop over anything. Then, shoot an “arrow” from that Amazon, also in a straight line, to block a square. That space is now dead to everyone, forever. It’s dramatic. This makes the board feel smaller with every turn, like a pizza you keep eating but really wish you hadn’t. When no one can make a legal move, the person with the most space controlled wins.
The game is all about sharp moves and outmaneuvering, with barely a sprinkle of luck—something I can finally thank the board game gods for. Next up, I’ll share how much brain-burning strategy and sneaky decisions you can expect, so buckle up your thinking cap.
Strategy Depth and Player Decisions in Amazons
If you love outsmarting your friends with clever moves, The Game of Amazons is right up your alley! This game has layers of strategy that sneak up on you. In every round, you move your amazon, shoot an arrow, and then stare at the board with that glazed look that says, “Why did I do that?”
The biggest decision you face is blocking or expanding. Do you try to fence off your own area like a grumpy farmer, or do you make life hard for your rivals by firing arrows into their path? Nothing feels more satisfying than trapping your mate’s amazon so it just sulks in a corner. But, get too focused on others and you’ll find yourself boxed in faster than last year’s Christmas sweater.
I’ve noticed that the board morphs with every turn, so you need to adapt and think ahead. One little slip, and you’re left huffing and puffing at the table while your friend grins and claims all the open ground. Planning two or three moves ahead is key. It’s like chess but with more arrows and fewer arguments about castling rules. Teaming up (or ganging up) on a strong player can swing things, but it risks leaving someone else a free path to glory. You probably won’t win by copying the person next to you; creative moves win the day in Amazons.
Next up, let’s talk about the game’s looks and feel—because even the smartest moves need decent cardboard to live on!
Component Quality and Board Design in Amazons: A Feast for Your Eyes?
Alright, let’s talk about how Amazons looks and feels on the table. You know those games where you open the box and instantly regret not bringing a magnifying glass? Not the case here! The board is a chunky square with plenty of space, so even my friend Dave—who plays like he’s building a wall of chaos—couldn’t make a mess of it. The grid is crystal clear, which is great for this game, since you need to see every little nook and cranny to plot your next sneaky move.
The pieces themselves? Now, I wouldn’t call them the Mona Lisa of board game bits, but let’s be real: they do the job. The amazons look like, well, little plastic chess queens if you squint, and the arrows are small cones that fit nicely on the spaces. I did get a little carried away and started building an arrow pyramid between turns, but hey, that’s another story.
I do wish the game included more color choices, especially when four people play. I once lost track of which amazons were mine—blame my snack break, but still. The cardboard is solid, not that wafer-thin stuff that bends if you look at it wrong, so it survived even when my cat tried to invade the board (thanks, Whiskers).
All in all, Amazons isn’t flashy, but it’s sturdy and practical, and you won’t find yourself squinting or swearing about missing pieces. Next up, I’ll talk about balance and fairness—because nobody wants a game where Uncle Joe wins just because he’s born lucky!
Balance and Fairness: Is Amazons a Level Playing Field?
When I roped my friends into playing Amazons with me for the first time, my stomach did that little flip you get before a board game showdown. “Is this thing going to be fair? Or am I just going to get steamrolled by Sarah, who loves chess a little too much?” Spoiler: Amazons turned out way more balanced than my wobbly kitchen table.
The genius bit about Amazons is that it scrubs luck almost completely out of the system. The game comes down entirely to player moves. There are no dice, no secret cards, and no sneaky advantages handed to anyone. Every player gets the same pieces, the same starting placements, and the same board. If you mess up, it’s your own brain’s fault—and trust me, I’ve blamed my brain a lot.
But is there a first player advantage? I experimented by rotating who starts each time. Sometimes, the first player did snag a slight edge if everyone else was asleep at the wheel, but it felt fair overall. Good planning usually beats rushing, and the game doesn’t punish newbies as harshly as chess does. Also, blocking paths and firing those arrows means you’re always one move away from flipping the board on someone, which kept things spicy and made sure nobody cruised to victory.
Ultimately, I think Amazons serves up one of the fairest competitions in abstract games. Unless your dog eats a piece, nobody’s getting an unfair leg up. If you want a game that’s won by smarts, not lucky dice, this is a top pick. I recommend it, even if you sometimes lose to your chess-obsessed friend. Fair is fair!
Conclusion
Amazons is a clever game that’s all about smart moves, blocking friends, and dramatic sighs when someone steals your perfect spot. After dragging my friends through a dozen rounds, I can safely say the game is fair, deep, and free from that annoying luck factor. The components look sleek, and the board won’t fall apart after your fourth rematch (I checked – one of my friends lost and tried). Some might say the strategy feels a bit like chess with arrows. If you enjoy out-thinking your friends and don’t mind the occasional groan, this game belongs on your table. So, that’s Amazons wrapped up – a smart, balanced classic that kept us playing until someone ran out of snacks. Game night approved!
