Thrift Treasure: Swivel Abstract Game
Continuing through the (large) pile of games we picked up during Geekway to the West‘s flea market, this week we’re breaking out Swivel by Patch Products. Another game in the crowded category of N-in-a-row challenges, Swivel does things a little differently.
The object of Swivel is exactly what you would expect. Be the first to get four-in-a-row of your color to win. Set the 3D game board in the middle of the play area and put the sixty-eight game tokens into the token bag. The four remaining player tokens are laid face-down on the table and each player takes one at random.
This player token will determine your player color and should not be shared with other participants. You’re working to get four-in-a-row of your color without knowing what the colors of the other players are.
On a turn the active player will pull a token from the bag and place it in any open space on the board. You may have drawn your color, or you may be placing one of your opponent’s. The color you play will determine whether you’re going for a win or simply using another token to block everyone else.
If you manage to draw one of the eight wild tokens, two things happen. First, you will choose one of the two levels of the board to swivel ninety degrees in either direction. Then you will place the wild token as normal. This counts as all colors to all players, so place it carefully! You may use up to three wild tokens to create your four-in-a-row! The first player to line up four of their color immediately wins Swivel!
While no longer available new, there are plenty of examples of Swivel for sale on eBay for reasonable prices. If you already have a four-in-a-row game in your collection, you may not find the need for another. If not, Swivel does offer an interesting twist on the genre (pun intended).
Do you already own a four-in-a-row game?
