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Company: Arcane Wonders
Game: Onitama (w/ expansion packs - "Sensei's Path", "Way of the Wind", and "Light and Shadow")
Country: USA 🇺🇸
Language: English
Type of Game: Tabletop Game (Board Game) 📬
Genre: Abstract Strategy
Date Played: September 13, 2024
Difficulty (based on 2 players): 4/10
Size of Team: 2 ppl
Time: Unlimited (Approximately 15-25 Mins.)
Price: $87.99 USD
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"Onitama" is an elegant, fast-paced abstract strategy game for two players that blends simplicity with depth. Set in a tranquil dojo, players take on the roles of martial arts masters, each guiding their students in a battle of wits and movement. The goal is to either capture your opponent’s master or to occupy their dojo's sacred temple space.
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The game comes in a beautifully crafted box that elegantly houses all its components. The artwork on the box and most of the interior is visually stunning and thematically consistent from every angle. I particularly appreciated the magnetic clasp, which makes opening and closing the box smooth and convenient. However, the box's long, unconventional shape can make storage a bit trickier compared to more standard game boxes.
Inside, you'll find ten high-quality plastic figurines—five red and five blue—as well as a player mat adorned with exquisite Asian-themed artwork. I especially love that the dojo is represented by a mat rather than cardboard, adding a touch of luxury and enhancing the game’s visual appeal on the table.
The movement cards are also noteworthy; they are oversized and feature simple yet thematic artwork, further enriching the game’s immersive experience.
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What sets "Onitama" apart is its unique movement system. Each game uses only five randomly drawn movement cards from a set of sixteen, two held by each player and one set aside. On a player’s turn, they must choose one of their cards to move one of their pieces, then pass that card into the middle space – their opponent will then receive this card at the end of their next move. This creates a constantly shifting tactical puzzle, as players must think several steps ahead while adapting to their opponent’s evolving options.
Movement cards can be assigned to any of your pieces, each card offering a distinct range of movement options for that piece. Similar to Chess, if your piece lands on the same space as an opponent's piece, you capture it and remove it from the game.
The cards are placed face-up on the table, so your opponent is always aware of your potential moves and the cards you might play next. This transparency is a key aspect of the game’s strategy, what benefits you now could later turn into a challenge.
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There are two ways to win - the "Way of the Stone" or the "Way of the Stream". The first player to do either one of these wins the game.
To win using the "Way of the Stone" you must capture your opponent’s Master using any of your pieces.
To win using the "Way of the Stream" you must move your own Master into the starting space of the opponent’s Master – their temple.
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With its minimal components and straightforward rules, "Onitama" provides a deep, contemplative experience that’s easy to learn yet rich in strategic depth, making each match feel like a mental duel. Fans of Chess or Go will appreciate its complex strategic elements, albeit on a smaller scale. For those who find traditional abstract games too intricate, Onitama serves as a perfect introduction.
The compact play area and the open card display enable quick gameplay, especially as you become more familiar with the game. Its portability makes it an ideal choice for outings like picnics or travel. Setup and takedown are effortless, taking only seconds, and the simple rules ensure you won't waste time re-reading them.
However, be cautious of analysis paralysis, overthinking moves can slow down the game. To mitigate this, we often set a time limit for each turn.
For added complexity, variety, and replay-ability, "Onitama" offers three main expansions and several promo cards that can be collected and integrated into the base game.
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Sensei’s Path - This expansion consists of sixteen new movement cards that can be used in replacement of, or combined with, those from the base game in order to have more variety during play.
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Way of the Wind – This expansion not only adds new movement cards, but it also adds a new piece. The adorable Wind Spirit joins the contest, moving around the board in a neutral manner, since it cannot capture pieces. The Wind Spirit acts more as a defensive token since it can block your opponents and switch place with other pawns (but not Masters). The expansion definitely adds another layer of complexity to the game, albeit a small amount, but it helps keep it fresh and enticing to play. This is an expansion worth purchasing if you are already familiar with the game and looking for more ways to enjoy an already excellent two player experience.
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Light and Shadow – This is the newest, largest, and most transformative expansion for "Onitama". In addition to introducing more movement cards, it brings new characters, ninjas, along with lanterns and a unique game board to complement the original.
Ninjas move only in the shadows, and their positions are hidden behind a secrecy screen, leaving your opponent in the dark about where they are until they strike. This introduces a hidden movement mechanic, adding a whole new layer of strategy to the game. Lanterns become crucial tools, allowing you to illuminate dark areas and expose the lurking ninjas. However, you’re limited to just two lanterns per game, so they must be used wisely.
While this expansion adds exciting new dimensions to gameplay, it also changes the pacing, making the game a bit slower and less streamlined compared to the original. We enjoy incorporating it occasionally, but it’s not an expansion we use every time. It’s also not recommended for first-time players; we suggest getting comfortable with the base game before deciding whether to add this expansion to your collection.
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(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)
Disclosure: We thank Arcane Wonders for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
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