2010-18: DVONN (+6)
I've waxed eloquent about the GIPF project in general, and DVONN in particular, quite recently. So let's just skip to the new rating system, shall we?
Narrative Theme: 1. It's an abstract game. No story here. ...unless you read the instructions, about the story of the GIPF project. I'll give it 1 point, for that.
Mechanical Theme: 0/10. If we assume the "theme" of DVONN to be "it's like the other GIPF games, but different" (which is the theme of all GIPF games), then it succeeds, at a 10. If you mean theme in the traditional "I fell like I'm a/doing X when I play this game, then the score is a 0, because it's an abstract game.
Price vs. Component Quality: 8. Have I mentioned how much I like the physical components of the GIPF series? Have I mentioned that the game is only $20?
Rule Complexity: 2. The game only has 4 rules. Dead simple.
Depth/Replayability: 8. I'm well into the double digits on plays of this game, and I still have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. And no worries about "solving" the game, because there is a variable board setup (which I also haven't figured out).
Mechanical elegance: 9. Abstract games are supposed to be streamlined elegance, and this is one of my favorite abstracts.
Length vs. Enjoyment: 9. At 15-30 minutes, DVONN never overstays its welcome.
Other indefinables: the potential to play DVONN in any combination with any of the other GIPF titles adds a certain bit of mystery and drama, as you try to figure out how, exactly, that would work.
Best for: people with oblong-shaped coffee-tables who want a playable centerpiece. Anyone who enjoys stacking games, but has moved past Jenga, and wants some strategy.
Narrative Theme: 1. It's an abstract game. No story here. ...unless you read the instructions, about the story of the GIPF project. I'll give it 1 point, for that.
Mechanical Theme: 0/10. If we assume the "theme" of DVONN to be "it's like the other GIPF games, but different" (which is the theme of all GIPF games), then it succeeds, at a 10. If you mean theme in the traditional "I fell like I'm a/doing X when I play this game, then the score is a 0, because it's an abstract game.
Price vs. Component Quality: 8. Have I mentioned how much I like the physical components of the GIPF series? Have I mentioned that the game is only $20?
Rule Complexity: 2. The game only has 4 rules. Dead simple.
Depth/Replayability: 8. I'm well into the double digits on plays of this game, and I still have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. And no worries about "solving" the game, because there is a variable board setup (which I also haven't figured out).
Mechanical elegance: 9. Abstract games are supposed to be streamlined elegance, and this is one of my favorite abstracts.
Length vs. Enjoyment: 9. At 15-30 minutes, DVONN never overstays its welcome.
Other indefinables: the potential to play DVONN in any combination with any of the other GIPF titles adds a certain bit of mystery and drama, as you try to figure out how, exactly, that would work.
Best for: people with oblong-shaped coffee-tables who want a playable centerpiece. Anyone who enjoys stacking games, but has moved past Jenga, and wants some strategy.