Balanx

Balanx is a 2 player balancing game by Kris Burm. The game has a low plastic see-saw grid with spaced grooves. Players have 10 heavy glass marbles in black and white, the same as found in Abalone, and 2 small steel ball bearings. Players start with their marbles on the opposite side and corner of the grid and move them towards themselves forwards and sideways, but not diagonally. The trick is that before a player moves, they hold the balancing board down on their side, making the marbles roll along the grooves and changing the set up entirely. In addition, the steel balls run in side grooves, affecting the balance of the board and making the game very challenging. The winner is the first to get their balls across to their corner, but if any balls are left in the opponents corner to block a finish, you lose. Rules in English, French, Dutch and Swedish. Was awarded the title "Best Abstract Strategy Game" by Games Magazine in 1997.

Players: 2
Playing time: 20 min
Age: 8+
Complexity: 2 / 5