#92: Batik

Batik

• designer: Kris Burm
• publisher: Gigamic
• date: 1997
• BoardGameGeek rank/rating: 2517/6.03
• position on my top 100 in 2005: did not appear
• age: 6+
• # of players: 2
• print status: in print
• cost: $24.00 (Boards & Bits)

This is my kind of abstract game - playable in a couple of minutes, gorgeous to look at, and focused on spatial relationships rather than thinking 4+ moves ahead. In fact, the game plays so quickly that we usually use the "tournament" rules... extending the game out to a whole ten minutes. :-)

Players have identical sets of wooden pieces which they take turns dropping into a vertical holder with clear plastic sides... when one of the pieces pokes over the top of the holder, the player loses. (In tournament rules, they lose that piece & the "winner" of the round starts the next round... first player to not be able to play a piece loses the tournament.)

It's a great filler game for two players... and is kid-friendly enough to be taught to kids as young as 5. In fact, Gigamic has produced a Batik Kid with pieces shaped like sea creatures.

BTW, though I'm not a big fan of abstract games, the designer of Batik has a great track record with abstracts for people who don't like abstracts: I think Zertz, Dvonn & Tamsk are all great games, though they don't appear in my top 100.