Crafty Games Abstract Academy

We've played the four-player version of Abstract Academy and we really enjoy the game play. First, the setup is easy. Second, the rules are pretty straightforward, and you can start playing while reading with little difficulty. Replayability appears good, and predicting the winner is not a slam dunk process, so you play with a reasonable expectation of winning. So, on the game play front, the most important aspect of any game, it's great.On the downside, the box is a tight fit. When everything is wrapped in cellophane, it works perfectly. Open it up, take out the rule book, shuffle the cards, and now things aren't quite so tidy anymore. Putting the game away is therefore an unwelcome process and I am looking for a suitable replacement box.Speaking of the rule book, I really wish it included more examples of how to score the Professor cards. At the start there was some argument on interpreting the brief descriptors of how to score these cards. In the end we settled on an explanation, and believe that our house rules are correct, but only explaining two out of the many Professor cards seems odd. Maybe they knew the box didn't have anymore room for a rulebook with more pages.

There are rules here for more than 2 players, but really I feel like this should be treated as a two player game since that's where it really shines. You're essentially just playing colored cards into a grid, deciding which to play and how to arrange it to either match or differentiate colors from neighboring cards. There are varying scoring objectives each round so the strategy of how you arrange your colors is changing regularly, which keeps each round feeling fresh.One very cool element is being able to play to either yours or your opponent's side (with some restrictions towards the end of the round). You often want to improve your scoring so "attacking" isn't usually ideal, but can come in handy in key moments. I don't tend to like attacky games but at 2 players this doesn't feel as bad as singling a player out in a multi-player game.There is some luck in trying to achieve some of the scoring objectives - some ask you to get certain specific shapes which just isn't always possible. But, even aside from that, I like the overall system here and have enjoyed my plays. The theme is super light and basically this feels like an abstract game, but I like that they at least tried to add a theme to it.Overall, neat little quick playing 2 player game with fairly easy rules and engaging play.

I enjoyed this game. One great thing about it is the variety in gameplay. It is one of those games where the strategy changes completely based on which cards are the scoring cards. I was able to play a simplified version of this game with my seven-year-old and she loved it. In general though, I would say that it is better suited for preteens and up. It is a good value for your money. We enjoyed it.

I think this game is a nice balance between strategy and chance. I like the theme of the game as well. It seems like a great option for families or groups wanting a quick-playing, visually engaging game that is nice to keep it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore gamers. JI would just be prepared to put in a little upfront effort to fully grasp the rules. I would recommend just watching a video instruction of the game rather than trying to understand the instructions.

Kind of a bit difficult to figure out. There are a lot of rules and directions to this game. You honestly need a whole afternoon to figure out how to play first. I do really like the abstract colors, I just wish there were more paint color options.

I have friends who enjoy strategy games while I tend to prefer a bit more chance. Makes me feel better about losing. It wasn't me. It was the cosmos. *waves hands dramatically* This might be a good game for others who need a compromise game. After you grasp the rules (run through it a few times), it's enjoyable to play from the art and goals side... but there's definitely strategy to it. But not Risk-like strategy. Ugh, that game...

This is a very fun game that's very replayable. My 11 year old daughter and I were able to figure it out and get the hang of it, we both really enjoyed it.

Completely uninteresting. Wouldn't recommend this game.