Gobblet

Line up four in a row, but bigger pieces gobble smaller ones and bury what you thought was safe.

Designer: Thierry Denoual
Published by: Blue Orange (EU)
Editions by: Blue Orange Games, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd., Gigamic, HUCH!, FoxGames, Ludens Spirit

Four in a row on a four-by-four grid, with a twist that makes your brain itch: bigger pieces can swallow smaller ones. Each of you has twelve nesting pieces in three sizes, and on your turn you either place a piece from your stock or move one already on the board. A big piece can cover a smaller one and hide it, whether it is yours or your opponent's. That is the memory test: you have to remember what lies underneath, because lifting the wrong piece can reveal your rival's winning line. It plays in about twenty minutes and mixes bluffing, foresight and board control. Think of it as Tic-Tac-Toe that went to grad school, with some Othello-style swings in the mix.

Twelve nesting pieces in three sizes eachBigger pieces gobble and hide smaller onesRemember what is buried before you lift a piece

Who it's for

You and an opponent want a compact, luck-free duel with a memory twist, a sharper cousin of Tic-Tac-Toe and Connect Four.

Not for you if…

You need more than two players or dislike remembering hidden positions. A forgotten piece will cost you the game.

Vibe's take

Quick, tricky and a little mean. Positions swing when a big piece lands, and the memory part keeps both players honest and occasionally panicked.