Tsuro

Tsuro box art

Game Stats

  • Year: 2004
  • Players: 2-8
  • Duration: 15-20 minutes
  • Complexity: Easy
  • Age Range: 8+
  • Status: Owned

Overview

Tsuro: The Game of the Path is a fast, elegant tile‑laying game first published in 2004. Players lay curved "path" tiles on a 6 × 6 grid, guiding their stone markers along the ever‑growing network of lines while trying to stay on the board and avoid colliding with other players. The last stone remaining wins. Simple rules (place a tile, move your stone, draw a new tile) combine with tense spatial planning, creating a family‑friendly experience that rewards foresight and a touch of risk‑taking.

Components

  • 1 folding game board (6 × 6 grid)
  • 8 stone tokens (player markers)
  • 35 path tiles
  • 1 Dragon tile (used when the tile draw pile empties)
  • Rulebook

Setup

  • Unfold the board and give each player a stone; unused stones return to the box.
  • Shuffle the 35 path tiles face‑down. Deal 3 tiles to each player, keeping hands hidden.
  • Players place their stones on any unoccupied start mark around the board edge (one per edge space).
  • Choose a starting player by any method; turns proceed clockwise.

How to Play

  • Place a Tile – On your turn, choose one tile from your hand and place it adjacent to your stone so its paths continue outward.
  • Move Stones – All stones whose paths are extended (yours first, then any others reached) travel along their connected lines until they stop at the board edge or another tile edge.
  • Check for Elimination – Any stone that runs off the board or collides with another stone is removed from play.
  • Draw a Tile – Draw one tile to refill your hand to three (unless the supply is empty; then the Dragon tile rules apply).
  • Winning – Be the last player with a stone on the board.

Why You Might Enjoy It

  • Teaches in under two minutes; plays in 15 – 20.
  • Elegant spatial puzzle that feels fresh every game thanks to random tile draws.
  • Scales well from thoughtful two‑player duels to lively eight‑player chaos.
  • Beautiful presentation with Zen‑inspired art and tactile stone pieces.

Expansions

Major Expansions

  • Tsuro of the Seas – Adds sea‑monster movement that can destroy tiles and ships.
  • Tsuro: Phoenix Rising – Uses double‑sided, flippable tiles and star‑collecting objectives.
  • Tsuro: Luxury Limited Edition – Heirloom wooden edition with upgraded components.

Minor Expansions

  • Tsuro of the Seas: Veterans of the Seas – Extra tiles and event variants for the Seas version.

References