Let me tell you, if you’re sick of board games that let your cousin win just because he rolled a lucky six, you’re in the right place. This is my honest review of Amazons—a game where your brain does all the heavy lifting (and you can finally stop blaming the dice for your losses). Grab your thinking cap and maybe a snack, because this one is all about clever moves, not lucky breaks. Let’s see if it deserves a spot on your table, or in the back of your closet with the unopened jigsaw puzzle from Aunt Linda.
How It Plays
Setting up
Stick the board on a table and give each player four Amazons of their color. Put everyone’s Amazons in the starting spots shown in the rulebook. Make sure the arrows are in arm’s reach—if you have a cat or a sneaky toddler around, guard them.
Gameplay
On your turn, pick one of your Amazons. Move it just like a queen in chess (any straight line, any distance). Next, pretend that Amazon is Robin Hood and shoot an arrow. The arrow flies like a queen too—just in a different direction from where you ended up. Plop an arrow token where it lands. That spot is now blocked for the rest of the game. Think of it as you building a really unfriendly fence.
Winning the game
The game ends when no one can make a legal move with any Amazon. Count up the number of spaces each player can reach with their last Amazons. The person who controls the most spaces wins. If you’re stuck in a corner? Well, better luck next time!
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for Amazons.
Gameplay Mechanics and Player Strategy in Amazons
Let’s talk about how Amazons works because, wow, this board game packs a punch with just a few simple things. You get a blank board, four queens (amazons!) per player, and a bunch of arrows to shoot at your friends. There’s no dice or cards or any of that nonsense—just pure brain work and some sneaky moves. I played it with my buddy Dave, who once got outwitted by a cat, and even he got the hang of it after a few turns.
So, what’s the big deal? In your turn, you move your amazon like a chess queen, then shoot an arrow to block a square. That’s it. You aren’t gonna win by luck—no roll of the dice will save you. It’s all about cutting off your opponents and grabbing more space for yourself. There’s a delicious moment in every game where someone realizes they’ve boxed themself in, and trust me, it’s comedy gold… unless it’s you. It was me, once. Okay, twice.
I noticed that early on, spreading your amazons out matters a lot. If you clump them together, you’ll hit a wall faster than a doughnut at a police picnic. Blocking off chunks of the board while keeping escape routes open is key. Every arrow you fire is basically a slap in the face to your rival, and the tension just builds. Planning two moves ahead helps—if you’re just reacting, you’ll lose faster than you can say “whoops.”
No luck, all skill. If you hate games like Monopoly where your cousin wins because he rolled a six, Amazons is your new best friend. Next up, let’s see if the game looks as good as it plays—bring on the cardboard judgment!
Component Quality & Game Aesthetics: Does Amazons Spark Joy?
Let’s talk about the first thing you notice when you crack open Amazons (besides the heated arguments about who gets which color piece). The board—she’s a beauty. It’s usually made out of sturdy, thick cardstock or sometimes wood if you snag a fancy edition like my friend Dave’s. You don’t feel like you’ll crease or tear this thing, even during an epic grudge match where someone (not naming names) slams an arrow token down a bit too hard.
The pieces are straightforward but have a certain charm. Each player gets queen pieces that are solid, tall, and easy to move around. My buddy Jess said the queens look like little chess pieces who hit the gym. The arrows, meanwhile, are clear and distinct so you won’t be squinting across the table, wondering if that tile is an arrow or a crumb from last night’s pizza.
Amazons isn’t exactly a game that’s going to win awards for flashy artwork, though. It’s classic, almost minimalist. There are no dragons or wild fantasy art here, just clean lines and a board that makes you feel clever. The colors are bold and easy to see across the table. I’ve played under questionable lighting in my kitchen and never had an issue.
One little complaint: if you get a cheap version, the arrows sometimes slide around with the lightest bump. Not a deal-breaker, but it can annoy sticklers for neatness.
But, next up—does Amazons keep calling you back to the table, or does it gather dust? Time to chat about replay value and how long you’ll be glued to your seat!
Replay Value and Game Length: Why You’ll Keep Coming Back to Amazons
Let’s talk about why Amazons keeps finding its way back onto my tabletop, even when my shelves are groaning under the weight of too many games (seriously, send help). If you like games that reward you for learning and improving, Amazons is your jam. The replay value is dynamite because you’re up against both your opponent and yourself: every game I played with my friends felt different, since we kept coming up with new fiendish ways to trap each other.
The game length sits in a sweet spot—usually about forty-five minutes, give or take, once everyone gets the hang of it. That’s enough time for the tension to build and for your brain to nearly overheat, but you won’t be stuck playing into the next ice age. Quick thinkers can occasionally finish a game in half an hour, but if you have a table full of over-analyzers (like my friend Steve, who strategizes about snacks), it might stretch a bit longer. But honestly, it never drags, and we often want to play again right after.
Amazons is especially replayable because there’s no “perfect” strategy—no two games ever unfold the same way. Each shift in player decisions makes a ripple, and that fresh uncertainty keeps me itching for a rematch. All in all, it’s the kind of game where you’ll always spot something you missed last time, and then you’ll want to try a new trick.
Next up: Is Amazons as balanced as a gymnast, or does luck sneak in wearing a fake mustache? Let’s find out!
Is Amazons Fair? Balance and the Role of Luck
If there’s one thing that gets me fuming, it’s losing a game because Aunt Martha rolled a six. Trust me, I’ve flipped Monopoly boards over less. The good news? The Game of the Amazons does not care about dice, cards, or anyone’s lucky socks. This game is about your brainpower and your ability to spot a trap faster than my friend Jules spotted a free snack at game night.
Each player starts with an equal number of queens placed at opposite corners of the board. The setup is always the same, so no one can blame their loss on a bad hand or the cat knocking pieces around. The only way you’ll fall behind is if you corner yourself, or miss a sneaky move from your opponent. And believe me, it happens. My cousin Tony still complains about “that time I boxed him in on turn five.” Get over it, Tony.
Balance is Amazons’ best feature, honestly. Both sides have the same options, and every move matters. If someone pulls off a win, it’s because they outmaneuvered you, not because a card told them so. It’s a pure duel of wits. Even if you lose, you feel like you’ve learned something—unless, of course, your pride is sensitive, in which case maybe play solitaire instead.
Do I recommend Amazons? Oh yes—as long as you want a truly fair fight and can handle being outsmarted once or twice. Just don’t ask for a rematch the same night you lose. Trust me.
Conclusion
So, that wraps up my wild ride with Amazons. If you want a game where every move actually matters—and nobody wins just because they’re lucky—this is a great pick. The strategy is deep, the pieces are sturdy, and there’s just enough chaos when your friends block you in. You won’t get bored fast, unless thinking hard isn’t your thing. Sure, the arrow tokens could use a glow-up, but at least they don’t get lost in the couch. All in all, Amazons is a must for folks who like their brains to sweat. That’s my review—and now I’m off to practice so I can finally beat Sam!
