Longhorn

Two outlaws, a 3x3 Texas map and mancala-style moves: steal the most cattle or get your rival arrested.

Designer: Bruno Cathala
Published by: Blue Orange (EU)
Editions by: Blue Orange Games, HUCH!

Longhorn (2013) is a two-player duel in 1870 Texas, where cattle from northern Mexico are a goldmine and cattle thieves swarm the range. You play Eagle Perkins or Jessie Artist Byrd, two feared outlaws. The goal is simple: steal the most cattle, plus a few gold nuggets if you can, or get your opponent arrested by the sheriff. Nine location tiles are shuffled into a 3x3 grid, each gets a random token and colored cattle meeples, and the sheriff, if in play, sits on Nugget Hill. Movement works like mancala, which makes every step a small puzzle. Over in about a quarter of an hour, and a good one for a pair.

Two outlaws duel in 1870 TexasNine shuffled locations in a 3x3 gridMancala-style movement, sudden-death arrest

Who it's for

You want a compact duel for exactly two with a western flavor and a clever, abstract-feeling movement puzzle.

Not for you if…

You are more than two, or you want a story-driven game. It is a quick, abstract face-off.

Vibe's take

Sharp and quick. Every move changes where the cattle sit and which spot the sheriff threatens next, so you are always laying a trap or avoiding one.