The Game
Quarto is a simple but very strategic two player game. Containing a total of 16 pieces, the game combines the aesthetics of a wooden chess set with the simplicity of a game such as draughts and uses mechanics similar to those in the games Connect Four and Qwirkle. This makes it appealing to players of all abilities in search of a strategic mental battleground.
Each of the pieces has four properties; it is either light or dark, tall or short, square or circular and solid or hollow. Between the 16 pieces, every possible combination of these properties appears. The aim of the game is to complete a row of four pieces with any one of these properties in common. However, there is a catch; your opponent chooses which piece you get to play!
Setup and Gameplay
To setup the game, place the four by four board in the centre of the table and lay out the wooden pieces next to it, within reach of both players. Randomly choose the starting player who will pick any one of the wooden pieces and hand it to their opponent. Their opponent will then place that piece on any space of the board, subsequently choosing any of the remaining pieces and handing it to the first player. This process simply repeats until one player completes a line of four pieces – vertically, horizontally or diagonally – with something in common (for example all short or all hollow). This player must call out, “Quarto!” and wins the game. If the board is completely filled and no player has been able to win, the game ends in a draw.
Practice Makes Perfect
With so many things to look out for between the pieces, the game creates an interesting multi-dimensional experience. When first learning to play, it is easy to miss the fact that you have left your opponent a winning placement because you are so focussed on the other properties of the pieces. With time, however, your ability to look simultaneously at all parts of the pieces will improve massively. The effect that practice plays in your ability to master the game makes it a well balanced game for players of the same level of experience, but perhaps less so if a well-versed player wants to play against someone who is new to the game.
Strategic Play
This game is a great example of how simple rules can lead to vast complexity. In Quarto, the ability to control which piece your opponent must play with gives rise to many different strategies. You can play aggressively by trying to force the other player to leave you lots of available opportunities; you can play defensively to make sure you don’t risk leaving any potential winning lines open; you can take advantage of that one property of the pieces that you know your opponent always forgets about. You will eventually discover new ways to force a win by thinking many steps ahead. This wide array of tactics makes it appealing for those in search of an easy-to-learn but deeply thoughtful game.
Game Variants
Have you played Quarto so many times that you need a new challenge? Fortunately, along with everything else, the game also provides you with an extra level of difficulty. In order to win in this version, you need to complete a line of matching pieces or a two by two square. This adds yet another layer of complexity to the game. It is great for advanced players who want to push their intellectual to the limit.
Other Games from the Series
If you like Quarto, its creators, Gigamic, have made a number of similarly simple but strategic games, calling it their “Modern Classics” series. These include Pylos, Qawale, Quixo, Quoridor and Squadro. Like Quarto, these are all very simple to pick up and play but yield unseen complexities upon closer inspection and repeated playing.
You want to take Quarto with you on holiday with you? Fear not because there is a mini version which is perfect for travelling with.
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, Quarto’s simple, concise rules make it in somewhat superior to traditional two player games, such as chess. It is certainly more suitable for less experienced board gamers who do not want to learn lots of complicated and seemingly arbitrary rules. Don’t get me wrong, nothing can beat the universal understanding that goes with the consistent and well-known rules of chess but I think this game rivals it in many ways. Its learnability makes it suitable for all ages and it feels deeply intuitive and natural. Quarto is also much quicker meaning you can play multiple rounds in one sitting. Down to the minutest details, such as the nice bag to put the pieces in or the inclusion of the rules in many languages, Quarto shows that it wants to provide you with a tactile and enjoyable gaming experience. I rate this game very highly among the crowded world of two player games.
