Game Trade Magazine - GTM #213 - Tsuro: The Game of the Path

GTM #213 - Tsuro: The Game of the Path

by Bill Fogarty

The Dragon and the Phoenix stand as legendary guardians over and guides to the intertwining paths of life, maintaining the careful balance between the twin forces of luck and destiny. Together, these two powerful beings share the noble task of overseeing the many roads that lead to divine wisdom.

Through its masterful blend of strategy and chance, Tsuro represents the classic quest for enlightenment.

These were the opening lines in the rules of Tsuro: The Game of the Path when it was first developed in 2004. The game continues to enthrall players to this day and stands as one of a handful of gateway games that has become more and more popular every year. Its success can be attributed to a number of reasons:

The elegant simplicity of its rules – Tsuro: The Game of the Path can be taught to new players in 30--seconds. Choose one of the three tiles in your hand. Place it on the board next to your pawn. Move your pawn along the path. If other pawns have a path (as a result of your play), they too move along their path. If a pawn moves off the board or collides with another pawn, the pawns are removed from the game and the players are eliminated. The last pawn on the board wins! Simplicity at its best.
The perfect balance of luck and skill – While there’s an element of luck when it comes to tiles drawn, the tiles themselves are all unique and offer four movement options. With three tiles available, a player can strategically play twelve choices for advancement and plan for two future turns. This delicate balance of skill and luck offers a satisfying game experience to players of all ages and skill levels.
A beautifully produced product with visual and tactile appeal – Tsuro: The Game of the Path is a sublime physical object in itself. The artwork on the box, board, and tiles conveys a sense of time, place, and mood. The pawns strike a balance of function and form. Even the color palette serves to reinforce the nature of the players’ experience.

Tsuro: The Game of the Path has also made the successful transition to the digital world. Thunderbox Entertainment set itself the goal of creating a digital experience that matched the physical experience one would have playing Tsuro. The app has been downloaded by over one million players worldwide and the feedback on the game has been extremely positive. The Tsuro app is available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Information on the game is available at: thunderboxentertainment.com

As a “Tribute” to our Tsuro fans, Calliope Games is pleased to offer a complimentary promotional Tsuro pawn in this issue of GTM. This collectible pawn, part of the Tsuro Rainbow Collection, is one of eight new colors; bright colors that have been here-to-for unused as Tsuro stones. Only two thousand pawns of each color have been produced for this giveaway. It’s our hope that this new pawn will encourage you to continually bring Tsuro to the table. We are delighted that the “Game of the Path” is your choice of entertainment for you, your friends, and family.

May you all find success and enlightenment at the end of your path!