Arcane Wonders | Onitama | Board Game | Ages 8+ | 2 Players | 15 to 20 Minutes Playing Time

I love this game, comes in a box with a magnetic flap, the board is rubber backed like a mouse mat with an almost silk printed side that rolls up with it's own area to store in the box, the pieces are hard plastic and well made, the cards are larger than I'd expected I thought they would be ticket to ride size but they are quite large, really easy to learn, took quite a while to arrive but well worth the wait, not a big box but easily fits in a bag.

This is a fantastic 2 player game if you like strategy or chess type games. Is dead simple mechanics that just require thinking and an element of luck. Has an Oriental theme , the pieces are a good size and the board and cards feel and look good quality. In fact , the "box" it is stored in is very clever and is a pleasant surprise when first opened. Makes a really cool gift visually and playability. Recommended !

Oh wow, if Chess had a much cooler, trendy younger cousin, this would be it.I love how each game is different due to only using 5 of the movement cards a game. Then they are shuffled and another 5 chosen for the next game. Not only that but it is easy to teach new players because the cards illustrate how you can move, you don't need to memorise them and be at a disadvantage while you learn.It also looks AMAZING on your shelf, I love the stylised art. TIP: keep any long distance movement cards as they keep your opponent wary.

Brought it as me and a friend have started to enjoy board games and wanted something more strategic but not overly complicated. Was very easy to pick up as the moves you can make are on the cards you deal out and don't have to remember a load of rules that will often be forgotten. By the end of the first game both had gotten the rules and how to play down and ended up playing multiple times on a weekend away upwards of 15 games. was very enjoyable and very accessible.

We've all heard about the latest game that "takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master"; well this is the real deal in my opinion. I have been a chess player for over 30yrs and, after several failed attempts to teach my (now 11yr old) daughter to play ("it's hard to remember and boooring!"), this seemed like a nice, simple alternative. I read the rules and watched a few gameplay videos on youtube and by the time we received and opened the box (after cooing awhile over the top-quality components), we were playing our first game in less than a minute. She loves it! This is chess simplified to the extreme as far as learning is concerned: 5x5 board, 2 simple win scenarios and your next move clearly depicted by a choice of two beautifully illustrated cards. Do not be fooled, however, by the simplicity of the rules! Whatever move you use on your turn becomes available to your opponent after his/her next turn. As there are only 5 "move cards" available per game (from a total of 16), every game becomes a fresh challenge where you must re-adapt your play style to the available moves; trying to attack whilst attempting not to give your opponent a move card that gives him/her an advantage. This completely levels the playing field, and so far my daughter and I have been quite evenly matched so this is awesome for us both. I do not often write reviews on Amazon, but this game deserves some praise for it's simplicity and depth. I know we will be playing this for a long time and the card system invites some inventive custom move creations; maybe some Shogi moves? This is a beautiful game, from presentation to components to gameplay. If you've read this far just buy it.

A great little 2 player game, chess-like but much simpler, quicker and every game is different!

I'd already played the game before buying and it stuck in my head for years so finally bought it.This came with all the pieces thankfully as other comments say some people didn't get them.

This is nice chess like game. It is very engaging. As your turn is determined by a card, you move every turn different way. That way you need to predict and strategise against opponents moves. Easy to learn, and explain to others. If you like chess but don’t have patience for long hours of play, this is game to go for.

I will start by saying my wife does not like chess, and while I dabbled with it I did not get into it much myself. Onitama is an improvement in all aspects. It's simple yet it retains the strategy component of chess, in fact there is added depth in the form of using the move cards and planning around moves that are not optimal. You are still mentally dueling with your opponent but there is a lot more "fun factor" with this game. Matches move fast and it didn't take long to become a favorite around here. It's easy to pull this game out as an easy filler between other games like Star Realms but quite often we reach for Onitama first and just keep playing it until we need a break.The neoprene mat is very nice, it will flatten out with time especially if you fold it the other way every now and then. The pieces feel good and look good, and the box is very high quality. Physically this is a well made game set and worth every penny, it's more premium than stuff you expect to buy at the target or walmart. The instructions are functional.In the game you have to deal with the cards you are dealt, literally. Your opponent may use a good move against you but then it's shuffled to you the next turn to likewise use against them. Or you may save a good move waiting for the right time to strike. Sometimes you get hit in an unexpected way that surprises you even after you spent a few minutes looking at the board trying to predict your opponents possible next moves. I find it surprising how they boiled chess down to 5 pieces on each team on a 5x5 board and retained strategic depth. The speed of gameplay is a big part of the appeal to Onitama, a game is done much quicker than many other board games. This quicker turnaround time means you can play several games in a row and/or take breaks at the end of a match instead of in the middle of one.Highly recommended. The base game is a must-have, the expansion that adds another set of move cards is very nice and also recommended. The other two expansions with the wind spirit and ninjas are not needed in my opinion. They start adding unnecessary layers and complexity to the game that slow it down and throws off the delicate balance of speed, simplicity, and tactical depth that the base Onitama game has delivered perfectly.

Este es uno de los juegos de mesa más sencillos y divertidos que haya jugado nunca; su forma de juego es muy similar al ajedrez pero con la versatilidad de los movimientos inspirados en animales.Los materiales del juego son muy buenos, la forma de la caja es PERFECTA, ya que además de verse muy bien, todos los elementos caben de manera exacta ahorrando espacio y manteniendo todo limpio y en orden.Las tarjetas, las piezas y tablero son de buen material y cumplen de manera adecuada su función.Un excelente juego y con 3 expansiones diferentes que le otorgan aún más versatilidad y jugabilidad.

Onitama pode ser resumido com a frase escrita em sua caixa: “Um elegante e simples jogo de táticas marciais”.Aqui, cada jogador assume uma escola de artes marciais, composta por 01 mestre e 04 discípulos, que duelarão (em um tabuleiro 5x5) para ver quem domina melhor as artes milenares de luta.Para isso, usaremos cartas que possuem movimentos pré-determinados, sendo que o jogo termina quando atingida uma (das duas) condições de vitória: capturar o mestre adversário ou fazer com que seu mestre chegue até os portões da escola adversária.A caixa contém: 08 discípulos, 02 mestres, um tabuleiro em neoprene e 16 cartas de movimentos.Em cada jogo, utilizaremos apenas 05 cartas do baralho, sendo 02 para cada jogador e 01 que será trocada ao final de cada movimento. Com isso, o jogo permite mais de meio milhão de combinações possíveis, dando uma rejogabilidade enorme. As partidas são rápidas, a caixa diz 15 minutos, e não discordo, mas a medida que você vai entendendo a mecânica, e as cartas vão mudando de uma partida para outra, as estratégias evoluem e deixam tudo mais interessante.Uma evolução do jogo de Xadrez, que lhe trará horas de jogatina até dominar todas as táticas.

Peccato che sia un gioco poco conosciuto! Un gran bel gioco di strategia, per amanti di giochi astratti e non!Scatola fantastica, pedine e carte di buonissima qualità, tappetino da gioco fantastico! Partite sempre diverse, ri-giocabilità altissima! Ottimo per riflettere, trovare soluzioni pensare e agire per vincere. Stimola la mente dei giocatori. Perfetto da giocare tra persone rispettose e con un buon fair-play.

The package arrived in excellent condition. Love the design and gameplay is smooth, fast and fun.Highly recommended for the lovers of abstract board games, and is really good for kids from 6+.