Pylos Almost Completes the Set

Disclosure

I can’t believe it’s already been over 2 1/2 years since I found a copy of Quits at our local thrift store. Included in the box was advertising for other Gigamic wooden games that I knew I’d be keeping an eye out for. Sure enough, 15 months later I happened across a like-new copy of Quarto at Goodwill, which quickly made its way into my cart.

Again, the included advertising flyer teased me with another similar wooden game that I needed to complete my collection. It has been another 15 months of searching, but no luck this time. Fortunately our contact at Gigamic found our plight funny (or sad…maybe both) and managed to procure a copy of Pylos for us to add to our collection.  And I can’t wait to show it to you.

A stunning all-wood abstract game for two players, Pylos requires you to think strategically in more than the standard two dimensions. The goal of the game is rather simple – you and one other opponent take turns to try to be the last to place their colored wooden sphere on the top of the pyramid. It sounds as if the player starting last would simply be the winner (the pyramid contains 30 spheres), but thanks to a simple-to-learn ruleset, it is not that straightforward.

Sure, the game starts by each person placing one of their pieces somewhere on the base of the pyramid. Pylos includes a high-quality wooden base that not only holds the structure, but also the players’ unused spheres, preventing them from rolling off the playing table. Once each player takes a few turns is where the magic comes in.

If you are able to complete a square made only of pieces of your color, then you are allowed to remove ANY two spheres of your color from the board and return them to the holding area as long as they aren’t supporting other pieces.

You can also build upwards by placing yours on top of four other pieces, creating a mini-pyramid. This can be taken from your reserve OR by moving another of your spheres already on the board (and unencumbered) to the new, higher location. This could also create a new square of matching colors that would allow you to remove two pieces as mentioned earlier!

As you might have guessed, Pylos is all about saving your pieces, not playing them. Each player has exactly 15 spheres, and with only 30 available spots on the board, the player who is able to save theirs longest will no doubt be declared the winner. Expect a round of Pylos to last from five to fifteen minutes, short enough for a best two-out-of-three competition!

You’ll find a couple versions of Pylos on Amazon, including pocket and travel versions. Of course we prefer the full-sized wooden copy for ourselves, and it is regularly available for under $33! Check out the other wooden games in Gigamic’s lineup and watch their Facebook and Twitter timelines to see if they’re about to add any more! We’re very close on completing the collection – don’t be surprised to see something about the last one, Quixo, very soon!

Which of Gigamic’s wooden games appeals to you the most?