So I gathered my usual crew, grabbed some snacks, and got ready for another board game night. This time, we tried something new (well, new to us): a game called Amazons. I had heard it was a classic in some circles, but was it worth pulling out from the shelf? In this review, I’ll spill the beans on our experience—covering everything from the rules to the big moments and even the little things that made us cheer (or grumble) around the table.
How It Plays
Setting Up
First, grab the square board and set up four amazons of your color in each corner. Each player gets a lovely set of these ladies – I usually name mine for dramatic effect, but this is optional (not recommended if you lose easily, trust me).
Gameplay
On your turn, pick one of your amazons and move her like a chess queen: any number of spaces, straight or diagonal, but not through stuff. Then, shoot an arrow from her landing spot, again like a queen, blocking a space. That’s it! But don’t be fooled. Every arrow shrinks the board and cranks up the tension. If you zoned out and now your only move is into a trap, you’re not alone. Happens to the best of us (me, specifically).
Winning the Game
You win if you’re the last player who can move any amazon. If you and your friends all get stuck in boxed-in solo corners, just count up your moves – whoever had more wins. (Fun fact: my friend Dave still claims he was robbed last time. He was not.)
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for Amazons.
How To Play Amazons and Why Your Brain Might Melt (In a Good Way)
If you want a game that makes you feel smarter just by reading the rules, Amazons is about to become your new mental gym. The rules look simple at first. Everybody starts with four queen-like pieces. You move like the chess queen and then shoot an arrow that lands like a queen’s move too, blocking a space forever. Take turns prancing and shooting, until everybody is boxed in and can’t move. That’s it! Or so I thought, before my friend Mike decided to go full Evil Genius on turn two.
Learning Amazons takes about five minutes. Teach your grumpy uncle, your keen niece, or that smug friend who always wins at Risk. But here’s the trick: while you grasp the basics just as fast as you can say “Checkmate, but pointier,” actually getting good takes ages. In our first game, I thought I was clever, then got boxed into a corner and spent the next half hour living with my bad decisions. You’ll suss out new traps and maneuvers every time. The game is easy to teach but tough to master, which I love. Nobody can just luck their way into victory, and your first win always feels earned, not handed to you by a lucky dice roll.
Be warned that Amazons has almost no luck or forgiveness for mistakes, so if your group likes chill, party-style games, this one may feel a bit like mental CrossFit. But if you enjoy a tight game with rules you can teach in one breath, you’ll have fun.
And speaking of fun—let’s head straight into the great debate: does Amazons reward careful thinkers, or is there a secret luck monster hiding in those arrows?
Strategy vs. Luck: The Battle for Bragging Rights in Amazons
If you’ve ever lost to your little cousin in Monopoly because he rolled better dice, you’ll appreciate how Amazons leans way more on skill than pure luck. In our games, each player’s brain basically went into overdrive, plotting out moves. No dice, no random card flipping, no blaming the universe for a bad hand. Every row you block, every square you leave open—it all goes back to your decision, for better or for hilarious disaster.
The game only gives you the pieces, the board, and some very basic rules, then says, “Alright, outwit each other.” Sometimes I wish I could blame my loss on ‘bad luck’, but nope—Amazons doesn’t play that way. If you win, it’s because you out-thought the rest. If you lose, well, you just got out-thought. Sorry! In our group, the best strategists usually did the best, though sometimes one of us tried a wild, risky move that paid off. But even then, risk in Amazons is about reading the board, not about flipping a coin.
This makes Amazons rare. So many board games say they’re strategic but secretly let chance play the main role—looking at you, roll and move games! Here, there’s no lucky break waiting around the corner. If you’re into strategy and hate unfair turns, you’ll love that. If you’re hoping for a last-second comeback thanks to luck, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
And now, get ready—because next up is where the sparks really fly: let’s talk about player interaction and how engaged you’ll stay once those Amazons hit the board!
Player Interaction and Engagement in Amazons: Battle of Wits on Every Turn
Right off the bat, Amazons serves up a plateful of delicious player interaction. This isn’t one of those board games where you sit around, sipping lukewarm soda, just waiting for your turn. Every single move throws a wrench into someone’s carefully laid plans. You see, the board fills up with arrows as the game moves along, and each arrow limits where everyone can go. Blocking your friend’s best move? Oh, it’s not only allowed, it’s encouraged. Nothing says friendship like trapping your buddy in a corner while pretending it was totally accidental.
I’ve lost count of how many times one of us let out a dramatic gasp when an Amazon got boxed in. “No way you saw that coming!” someone will exclaim, while silently plotting revenge. Amazons rewards paying attention, because if you zone out even for a second, your opponents will happily build an arrow fortress around you.
But let’s talk about engagement. Even if you’re a quiet player, you’ll find yourself clutching your head or nervously tapping the table as options disappear before your eyes. No hidden information, no sneaky luck—just pure face-to-face rivalry. If you think you can coast, think again. The need to read your friends’ strategies and anticipate their next steps keeps everyone glued to the board, and yes, sometimes friendly trash talk fills the room.
Curious if amazons stays fresh over repeat plays, or if it gobbles up your whole evening? Don’t go anywhere—the next section spills the beans on replay value and game length!
Replay Value and Game Length: Why Amazons Keeps Coming Back to My Table
If you asked my game group to pick an all-time favorite, Amazons would get loud cheers every time. I’ve played it so many times, I can almost see the burn marks from all those intense endgames on my table. The replay value? Off the charts, let me tell you.
First off, every single game of Amazons feels unique. The board starts clean, but within a few turns it’s chaos in the best way. Since players block off spaces with arrows, the battlefield shifts fast. My friend Rob still complains about the time I trapped his last amazon in a sad little corner—sorry Rob, you snooze, you lose!
As for game length, Amazons hits a real sweet spot. Most games with four players wrap up in 40-60 minutes. With just two, you can finish in under half an hour. It’s short enough for a rematch, but meaty enough that you feel like you actually accomplished something. No three-hour marathons here—my snacks last longer than most games!
With such high replay value, you won’t get bored. There’s no built-in story to run dry, and no memorizing fixed openings like in chess. Even after a dozen plays, I still spot new tactics and dramatic showdowns (and, let’s be honest, new ways to annoy my friends).
So do I recommend Amazons? Absolutely! If you love games where skill trumps luck, you’ll want to keep this one handy. Just watch out for those sneaky arrows flying in your direction—no one is safe, not even Rob.
Conclusion
If you love a game where brains matter more than lucky dice rolls, Amazons is a top pick. I had a blast playing it with my friends—well, except for the guy who kept blocking my moves. (I’m not bitter. Really!) The rules are simple, but the strategy runs deep. Every turn feels important, and you never win just because the universe says so. Sure, it can get a little intense if you don’t like direct face-offs, but that’s part of the fun. Amazons is quick to play, easy to set up, and offers new challenges every time. I gladly recommend it to folks who like thinking games—just remember, luck fans, this isn’t your jam. This wraps up my review. Now go on, outwit your pals!
