Azul Board Game

Why This Tile-Laying Gem Belongs in Your Collection

The Azul board game is one of those rare titles that works for everyone—from your grandparents to your hardcore gamer friends. I’ll be honest, when I first heard about it, I wasn’t sold. Another abstract game about placing tiles? But after one play, I got it. This 2018 Spiel des Jahres winner combines simple rules with deep strategy in a way that keeps bringing me back week after week. If you’re looking for a beautiful, engaging board game that plays in under an hour, Azul deserves serious consideration.

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The Premise Behind Azul Board Game

Here’s the setup: You’re a tile artisan in 16th century Portugal. King Manuel I wants his palace decorated with gorgeous azulejos (those stunning Portuguese tiles you’ve probably seen on Instagram). You’re competing with other artisans to create the best patterns.

Sounds simple, right? It is—and that’s the point. But don’t mistake simple for shallow.

What’s in the Box?

When you open the Azul board game, you’ll find 100 chunky resin tiles that feel great to handle. Seriously, the component quality here punches above its price point. You also get player boards, factory displays (circular cardboard pieces that hold tiles), and a bag to draw from.

The tiles come in five different patterns and colors. They’re not just functional—they’re genuinely pretty to look at during gameplay.

Playing Azul: The Basics

Each round works like this:

Tiles get randomly placed on factory displays between players. On your turn, you pick ALL tiles of one color from a factory or from the middle of the table. Here’s the catch—whatever you don’t take from that factory slides into the center. This creates this beautiful tension where you’re constantly thinking “Do I take what I need, or do I take what my opponent desperately wants?”

You place your collected tiles on your player board’s pattern lines (the left side). Once a row is complete, you move one tile to your decorative wall (the right side) and score points based on what’s already there. Tiles that create horizontal or vertical connections score more. Leftover tiles you couldn’t place? They hit your floor line and cost you points.

The game ends when someone completes a horizontal row of five tiles on their wall.

Why Azul Board Game Actually Works

Most abstract games either feel too random or too brain-burny. Azul nails a sweet spot.

The draft-and-deny mechanic is brilliant. You’re not just building your own thing—you’re actively messing with everyone else’s plans. When I grab those blue tiles my wife needs for her wall, even though I don’t really need them? That’s peak Azul strategy (and peak married-couple game night pettiness).

Pattern management adds another layer. You can’t just hoard tiles. Each pattern line on your board holds a specific number of spaces, and any overflow goes straight to penalty territory. I’ve watched new players learn this lesson the hard way—taking 7 tiles when their row only fits 3. Ouch.

The scoring system rewards planning ahead. Building clustered sections on your wall creates exponential point growth. Early game, you might score 2-3 points per tile. Late game? A well-placed tile can score 10+ points easily.

Getting Good at Azul Board Game

After probably 50+ games, here’s what actually matters:

Watch what others are collecting. If two players are fighting over red tiles, focus on different colors. Less competition means easier pattern completion.

Sometimes penalties are worth it. Taking a small hit now to set up a massive scoring turn next round? Often the right call.

First player token is powerful but painful. You get to pick first next round, but you take a -1 penalty immediately. The trick is timing when that trade-off makes sense.

Don’t tunnel vision on one section. I see new players obsess over completing one specific wall area. Meanwhile, experienced players spread their focus and capitalize on whatever tiles become available.

Count the bag. Sounds sweaty, but tracking which tiles are left helps you make better decisions late in rounds.

The Azul Family Grows

The original Azul board game did so well that we’ve gotten several spin-offs:

Stained Glass of Sintra uses transparent plastic panes and changes the scoring structure. It’s prettier but slightly fiddlier than the original.

Summer Pavilion adds wild tiles and different pattern requirements. More complex, better for experienced players.

Queen’s Garden just came out recently with modular boards and new mechanics. Haven’t played it enough to have strong opinions yet.

Honestly? Start with the original. It’s still the best in the series for most people.

Who Should Buy Azul Board Game?

This works for basically everyone:

Your parents will get it. The rules take maybe 5 minutes to explain, and the theme makes intuitive sense even to people who’ve never played modern board games.

Kids can hang. The box says 8+, and that’s about right. Younger kids struggle with the forward planning, but the basic mechanics click fast.

Game night regulars won’t feel bored. Yeah, it’s not Twilight Imperium-level complex, but there’s enough depth to keep things interesting across repeated plays.

Two players? Fantastic. Three? Even better. Four? Still good but slightly more chaotic.

Games run 30-45 minutes, which is short enough that you’ll usually play twice in one sitting.

The Awards Aren’t Wrong

Azul won the Spiel des Jahres in 2018, which is basically the Oscars for board games. It also grabbed the Golden Geek for Best Abstract Game and a bunch of other international awards.

These aren’t participation trophies. The Spiel committee has been picking winners for 40+ years, and they know what they’re doing. When they give a game that red pawn award, it means something.

Where to Grab a Copy

Get your copy now

The Azul board game typically runs $35-40 on Amazon, at Target, or your local game store. Sometimes you’ll catch sales that drop it to $30.

The game’s popular enough that availability isn’t usually an issue. That said, I’ve seen specific editions (like the crystal mosaic version) sell out during holidays.

Support local game stores when possible. They’ll usually price-match online retailers and give you better recommendations for your next purchase.

My Take After Years of Playing

Look, the board game world moves fast. New releases drop constantly, and hype cycles are real. But Azul has stuck around because it’s just… good. Really good.

It’s one of those rare games where teaching new players is actually fun instead of a chore. The components feel premium. Games move quickly enough that analysis paralysis doesn’t bog things down. And the strategy deepens the more you play.

If you’re reading this trying to decide whether to buy the Azul board game, here’s my advice: Just get it. At this price point, even if it somehow doesn’t click with your group (unlikely), you’re not out much money. But chances are, it’ll become one of those reliable staples that works for any occasion.

Whether you’re hosting family game night, killing time before dinner arrives, or settling in for a strategic showdown with your most competitive friend—Azul delivers.

Quick Reference:

Players: 2-4 (best with 2-3)
Time: 30-45 minutes
Age: 8 and up
Designer: Michael Kiesling
Publisher: Plan B Games
Price: Usually $35-40