Aquarius

Play element cards like dominoes and connect seven panels of your element before anyone derails you.

Designer: Andrew Looney
Published by: Looney Labs
Editions by: Hobby Japan, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd., Covenant Communications, Inc.

Dominoes with a groovy twist, played with cards. Aquarius (1998) has three kinds of cards: Elements, Goals and Actions. You lay Element cards a bit like dominoes, trying to connect seven panels of one particular element. Your Goal card decides which element you are after, and Action cards let you shake things up in five different ways, so a nearly finished line can be derailed by a neighbor. The game is quick and colorful, made for two to five players, best with three or four. A light card game for around half an hour and for kids from six.

Element, Goal and Action cardsConnect seven panels of your elementFive kinds of action to shake things up

Who it's for

You want a short, colorful card game for kids from six and adults together, where a well-timed action card gets a laugh.

Not for you if…

You want deep strategy. It is a light card game where goal luck and action cards can upend a plan.

Vibe's take

Light, bright and a little teasing. You build toward your element, and another player's action card keeps turning your plan sideways.