Onitama is an excellent two-player game where you’re maneuvering your pieces like chess, but not like chess.
The goal is to either capture your opponent’s monk (the big piece) or to move your monk onto your opponent’s home space (the spot right in front of them). You choose one of the two cards in front of you and move a piece according to that card. Then you pass the card to your opponent for them to use after their next turn. Play continues this way, with players choosing a card for movement, then passing it, like a waltz of death!
You only ever deal 5 cards total to be used in any game, so you can always see what choices your opponent has and will have. This gives you a lot to think about without it becoming too overwhelming. And since there a ton of cards, every game plays a little differently.
It’s fast and light enough for casual players to enjoy, but meaty enough that strategic thinking always wins. Like eating a can Pringle’s where you can’t stop with one, it’s a game that’s easy to end up playing multiple matches in a row. Definitely check it out!
