Featured Game March 3 2025
This week Goose Games is happy to feature four games in the amazing and beautiful Azul strategy game series.
Designed by Michael Kiesling Azul is a highly acclaimed board game series which has become a modern classic in the board gaming world. The series consists of several versions, each with its unique twists and themes.
Azul (2017) – The Original The first game in the series, Azul, introduced players to the world of Portuguese tile-laying. Players compete to create the most beautiful mosaic by collecting and placing tiles. The game’s simplicity, depth, and player interaction made it an instant hit.
Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra (2018) – The Sequel The sequel, Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra, introduced a new theme, mechanics, and components. Players create stained glass windows by collecting and placing tiles, while also managing a new mechanic: the “eye” tokens, which provide bonuses and penalties.
Azul: Queen’s Garden (2019) – The Next Chapter Azul: Queen’s Garden takes the series in a new direction, introducing a garden-themed game where players collect and place tiles to create a beautiful garden landscape. This version adds new mechanics, such as the “water feature” and “path” tiles.
Azul: Summer Pavilion (2020) – This game returns to the original’s tile-laying mechanics, but with a new theme: building a summer pavilion. Players collect and place tiles to create a beautiful structure, while also managing a new “favor” system.
Azul has become a landmark game in modern board gaming history, contributing significantly to the popularity of the hobby. Azul has been widely regarded as a “gateway game,” introducing many new players to the world of modern board gaming. Azul also popularized the tile-laying mechanic, which has since been incorporated into numerous other games.
Azul’s accessibility and simplicity have helped make board gaming a more inclusive hobby and each game in the series have received numerous awards making it a beloved and influential part of modern board gaming offering a range of themes and mechanics that cater to different tastes and preferences.