Tantrix

Tantrix is a tile game built from painted hexagons, invented in New Zealand in 1991. Each tile carries three colored tracks, each running from one edge to another, and the goal is to build the longest line or loop in your chosen color. A closed loop counts double. You hold six tiles in view, and any hole with at least three neighbors is a required play, so you cannot simply ignore it. After each placement you draw a new tile, which keeps luck in check but alive. It also works as a solitaire puzzle, ranging from easy to nearly impossible, and as a game for up to six. A tidy blend of pattern puzzle and tactics.