OK Play
Growing up in a Mexican Train house, and marrying into a 42 house, I know a thing or two about kinda-like-dominoes-but-not-quite-dominoes games. We've also recently featured Snakes of Wrath, the coolest almost-dominoes game in a decade. Now imagine dominoes and Connect Four are having a baby, and that kid's name is OK Play.
How it works: If you've ever played literally any tile game, you'll be right at home here. Players take turns laying tiles, flat-edge-to-flat-edge only, until someone gets 5 in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). The entire game takes 30 seconds to learn and even less time to setup, so it's an absolute powerhouse for parties, travel, or days at the brewery.
Why it's clever: Like most simple looking strategy games, it's deceptively simple. Even seasoned players will have some decent back-and-forth, and with 4 players there are some fun teamwork (aka spite) mechanics that come into play. Aside from the simple (yet engaging) gameplay, the physical design here is really clever. The entire game is made up of four stacks of tiles, all hooked to a single carabiner clip. You can toss it in a bag, or hook it to a tote – the tiles are durable enough to hold up to the abuse, water, or the aforementioned wild day at the brewery.
Price: $21.49
Bonus info: this game is published by Big Potato Games, a favorite on the blog here. If I see that logo, I'm generally inclined to give the game a try.
