Onitama

A game by Shimpei Sato

2 Players 15 - 20 minutes Low

Grid Movement, Hand Management, Pattern Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture

Abstract Strategy

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Description

Onitama is a simple yet strategic board game designed by Shimpei Sato, where two players compete on a 5x5 grid. The rules are easy to learn, making it accessible to new players, and each game lasts around 15 to 20 minutes. Players start with five pawns, including a main pawn, and two open cards that show possible moves for their pieces. The twist in Onitama is the way players use and exchange cards to make their moves. Each turn, a player chooses a card, moves a piece accordingly, and then replaces the used card with a fifth card that was previously unavailable. This mechanism creates a fun and challenging experience as players try to outmaneuver each other, capture opponent pawns, and ultimately win the game by taking the opponent's main pawn or moving their own main pawn into the opponent's starting space.