Quick Look: Brikks
Publisher: Stronghold Games
Designer: Wolfgang Warsch
Artist: Anne Pätzke
Player Count: 1-4
Why it’s Good
Next up in our Small Game Series is Brikks!
First of all, Brikks is basically Tetris. If you ever enjoyed this classic polyomino game, then you’ll quite possibly be pleased with its pen-and-paper implementation. Second, the game is designed well. Sure, what you get depends on what is rolled, but there are mechanics that allow you to alter those rolls for your personal gain. While everyone does share the same two dice and their results, the players’ pages are all vastly different.
It’s a good brain game as well, keeping your mind active as you work to solve the polyomino puzzle. It can play quickly (or not, depending on how much time you take to think things through), so it’s easy to get in multiple games in a row. Oh, and it’s excellent as a solo game as well, so that’s a big perk for me.
Who it’s For
Brikks is a game for all types of preferences. It’s an excellent puzzle game with simple enough rules to entice gamers with a preference for lighter games, but also provides some good thought, making it appealing for players who like some good thought in their turns. It’s also an excellent solo game, with rules that still keep to the main form and focus of the game.
Player Count
Brikks plays from 1-4 players, but honestly, I don’t see why you can’t play with more. In order to do so, you’ll just need more pens…or share what you’re given.
Pocket or Backpack?
This is definitely a backpack game, although I’ve toted it around in the big pockets of my cargo shorts before. It’s a bigger small box, but it fits the bill and really doesn’t require a lot of space, especially if you laminate a few pages and just carry the player sheets, dice, and a couple of pens or markers.
Depth
As mentioned above, Brikks has a rule set that is accessible to all, but deep enough gameplay that it hooks those looking for a good brain workout.
Why I Chose Brikks
Simply put, Brikks is fun. What else do you want in a game? But it’s more than just fun; it’s a puzzle and has you make important decisions on the fly. How those decisions will affect you will yet to be seen as dice are inherently unpredictable (the last game I played, we didn’t roll a single red shape).
Conclusion
Tetris is a favorite classic of old and young alike, which makes Brikks a great choice for bridging the generation gap. Besides that, it is easy to learn but provides a great deal of thought. With an official solo variant available (that plays very well), Brikks can occupy your time to the extent Tetris did to me when I was a youngster. There’s a lot going for it, and it can be rather addicting, regardless of player count. All in all, Brikks is a solid game and deserves some serious accolades. Brikks is an unsung hero in the roll-and-write genre.
