Follow Your Own Path In Passtally From Analog Lunchbox

August 24, 2018 by cassn

Cute, simple, and incredibly photogenic. No, it's not Sam - it's Passtally.

Like @dracs this game has come from Japan but, unlike @dracs, Passtally doesn't keep harping on about it.

To begin, players place one of their four markers on a space around the edge of the board. They then perform two actions: play a tile to connect your player markers or move your player marker two spaces around the edge of the board, skipping over any spaces occupied by your opponent.

The aim is to connect your sets of player markers using the lines on the tiles. Tiles can be placed on top of each other to facilitate connecting markers, and to create a truly Instagram-worthy board.

At the end of each round points are counted and awarded for connecting your pairs of player markers. The game is complete when the tile stack runs out, one player scores 50 points, or a tile cannot be placed. Scoring is based on how many passes (times you cross another tile) you tally (count): Passtally.

This is an easy-to-learn, fun-to-play, satisfying-to-photograph game; quite frankly, the best kind. A game with all the creative satisfaction of Tsuro, minus the fear of imminent destruction. This is a quiet reflective game, suited to abstract, efficient thinkers who like to challenge their mind.

Sadly, those of us in the UK longing for the game will have to wait (or pay extortionate fees) as right now Passtally is only available in Japan. However, Pandasaurus Games have bought the license for North America, so it shouldn't be too long until it hits the Western market. And, when it does, I can see this being a mainstream seller.

What is your most 'photogenic' game? Let us know below!