Pacru

Players compete on a 9×9 grid subdivided into nine 3×3 borderlands, converting neutral tiles to their color as pieces move across borders. Each player controls a small number of pieces whose movement range within a borderland increases as that player controls more tiles there. Turns consist of moving pieces, performing connection changes to sweep a piece across multiple tiles and flip them to the player’s color, or using paired pieces to capture an opponent’s piece by pincering. Victory occurs either by placing a 42nd tile of one’s color on the board or by eliminating all opposing pieces. Game length and piece count adjust for three- or four-player variants.

Players: 2–4 best 2
Playing time: 45 min
Age: 7+
Complexity: 3.3 / 5