Azul Board Game Buying Guide [IGN]

Outside of the satisfying-feeling tiles and the easy-to-pick-up gameplay, the magic of Azul is that it scales incredibly well. Many games, while claiming to accommodate a range of competitors, don’t play as well with some player counts as others. On the other hand, while we picked Azul as one of the best board games for three players, it’s just as good with two or four people.

Later iterations of Azul have introduced wildly different rulesets, further deepening the experience. Each version doesn’t play like a simple adaption, however. Sure, the various entries all ask players to draft beautifully crafted tiles and place them on a board, but these packages are often so varied that owning multiple versions actually makes sense for more than just the hardcore Azul fanatic. All the various titles and expansions might be a bit confusing at first, but it helps to know that there isn’t a bad option in the bunch. That said, for most people, it probably makes the most sense to begin with the title that started it all.

The Games

Azul

Azul Board Game

MSRP: $44.99 USD

• Age: 8+
• Players: 2-4
• Play Time: 30-45 mins

Azul asks players to draft tiles and place them in designated spots on their boards. The goal is to complete columns, rows, and colors, all of which award a set amount of points. Of course, the player with the most points at the end of the game wins. However, strategic players will want to block their opponent from completing their respective board, meaning Azul is a game about both offense and defense. This balance is part of what makes Azul great, and the ability to eye multiple boards is what separates novice players from skilled ones. Like any great strategy game, it’s about being one step ahead of the competition.

Azul scored high in our review and won several Board Game of the Year awards thanks to its simple yet elegant gameplay. The beautifully crafted tiles both look phenomenal and feel great in the hand. As this is the most basic iteration of Azul, it’s the recommended place for most players to start. Don’t let its simplicity fool you, however. Two-player matches can get quite cutthroat, as much of the game revolves around blocking opponents from selecting the tiles they need to complete their boards. Still, if you’re looking for something more complex, the next few titles in the franchise offer wrinkles that add a bit of depth to the core gameplay.

Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra

MSRP: $44.99 USD

• Age: 8+
• Players: 2-4
• Play Time: 30-45 mins

While there are no bad Azul games, Stained Glass of Sintra is about as divisive a title as the series has. Azul fans who aren’t as hot on Stained Glass of Sintra are generally still positive about it, but, understandably, players were a bit taken aback by this entry as it is quite the departure from the original. Sure, players are still tasked with drafting colorful tiles and playing them on their board, but tile placement works much differently in Stained Glass of Sintra.

Rather than trying to complete columns and rows, the follow-up focuses more heavily on vertical gameplay. Additionally, a meeple is introduced to the series (but never seen again afterward) which moves players from one stained glass board to the next. Players familiar with Azul will undoubtedly catch on rather quickly, but these new mechanics do add some complexity to the original gameplay. For those looking for something slightly deeper than Azul, Stained Glass of Sintra is certainly worth checking out, as are the next couple of entries on this list. Additionally, this is an easy recommendation for players who already have Azul and are looking for something a bit different that still manages to scratch the same itch. But again, maybe check out the next couple of entries first.

Azul: Summer Pavillion

MSRP: $44.99 USD

• Age: 8+
• Players: 2-4
• Play Time: 30-45 mins

Like Stained Glass of Sintra, Azul: Summer Pavilion maintains the same tile drafting system as the original game but differentiates itself in the placement phase. The biggest change to gameplay with Summer Pavilion is the introduction of the wild card tile. Each round a new color is selected to be the wild card, meaning it can be used in place of any tile in the game.

Like the earlier entries in the series, Summer Pavilion maintains its tense drafting phase that requires players to think about future turns and predict the moves of their opponents, but the wild card adds a fun and meaningful twist to the formula. The new board also offers even more room to score bonus points, making Summer Pavilion somewhat deeper than the previous two entries. Not to sound like a broken record, but many will want to grab the original Azul first and later graduate to a title like Summer Pavilion. However, the wild card element and the deeper scoring system might be enough to persuade first-time buyers looking for something more advanced. If that’s you, then Summer Pavilion is an excellent place to start.

Azul: Queen’s Garden

MSRP: $44.99 USD

• Age: 10+
• Players: 2-4
• Play Time: 30-45 mins

Azul: Queen’s Garden is easily the farthest departure from the original title. Both the tile drafting and placement phases are quite different, albeit still somewhat reminiscent of Azul. However, Queen’s Garden makes a substantial leap in complexity thanks to tiles that vary in color and design. Additionally, not only are players drafting tiles, but they are also drafting expansions to their board. These board expansions also need to share a type or a color with the adjacent tile, adding another wrinkle to the player’s strategy.

Despite differing so drastically from earlier iterations of Azul, Queen’s Garden is still an excellent title. In fact, many players enjoy it because of its deeper gameplay. Again, newer players will likely want to start with the original Azul before trying out one of the later entries, but, in this case, liking one isn’t necessarily an indicator of enjoying the other as they are so different. This is certainly the most difficult title in the series, with Summer Pavilion being a good middle ground between it and the original.

Azul: Master Chocolatier

MSRP: $44.99 USD

• Age: 8+
• Players: 2-4
• Play Time: 30-45 mins

Azul: Master Chocolatier is more or less a reskin of the original game, but with a chocolatey theme. Master Chocolatier does add an Advanced Mode that introduces a slight tweak to the drafting process thanks to various symbols on the reverse side of the mats that can affect scoring or tile placement. If played on the standard side, however, the gameplay remains the same. The only other difference between Master Chocolatier and the original is the design of the boards and the tiles.

The introduction of the Advanced Mode makes this an intriguing option over the original version simply because there is some additional variability. Other than that, it’s recommended that players choose the design and theme that most appeals to them.

The Expansions

Azul: Crystal Mozaic

MSRP: $14.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES AZUL)

• 4 new double-sided player boards
• Plastic overlays to keep tiles in place

Crystal Mozaic is a relatively small and inexpensive expansion to Azul. The big change comes in the form of the new player boards that alter the tile placement process. Scoring is slightly different, lowering some penalties for unused tiles and adding new bonuses for various placements.

At its core, this is still Azul, but Crystal Mozaic adds variability for those who have played the original game countless times and are looking for something slightly different. It’s not a game-changer by any means, but it may offer more replayability to your existing copy of Azul.

Azul: Glazed Pavilion

MSRP: $14.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES AZUL: SUMMER PAVILION)

• 4 new double-sided player boards
• 1 new double-sided central board
• Plastic overlays to keep tiles in place

Glazed Pavilion essentially does for Summer Pavilion what Crystal Mozaic does for the original Azul. The new double-sided player boards offer different scoring options that vary slightly from Summer Pavilion.

Like Crystal Mozaic, Glazed Pavilion is recommended for players who have run their copy of Summer Pavilion into the ground and are looking for a new way to experience an old favorite. It’s not an exceptionally exciting change, but it’s a relatively inexpensive option to add more replayability to a great game.

Other Versions

Azul Mini

Azul Mini is exactly what it sounds like; it’s just Azul but at a fraction of the size. Azul Mini is ideal for anyone running out of space on their bookshelf or in their closet but still wants to own one of the best family games in recent years. Not to mention, this version is great for traveling. Just don’t misplace the smaller components.

5211: Azul Edition

MSRP: $12.99 USD

• Age: 8+
• Players: 2-5
• Play Time: 20 mins

5211: Azul Edition isn’t an Azul title at all, but rather, a reskinned version of the 5211 card game. 5211 is a pretty simple and quick-playing game where players draw five cards, and each round has them playing two cards, one card, and then one again. (See what they did there?) After identifying the majority color on the table at the end of each round, players take back their cards of that color to tally up at the end of the game for points. There are some fun twists baked in as well. For example, too many cards of the same color on the table can lead to a bust, and the next most popular color cards are taken.

There are five different colors of cards in 5211, but in the Azul Edition, those colors are replaced by five tile designs inspired by the aesthetic of the original Azul. That’s really the only difference. It’s a smart tactic from publisher Next Move Games as Azul is one of the most popular titles in the medium. Despite its lack of similarities, however, fans of Azul may still enjoy 5211 as it is yet another simple-to-learn game with layers of strategy.

Azul: Digital

There’s nothing like getting a group of friends or family members around a table to enjoy a fun game, but when that isn’t an option, playing online is often a solid way to go. Along with hundreds of other titles, Azul is available to play on Board Game Arena with a Premium Membership. Board Game Arena does offer many free titles, but games like Azul, Wingspan, Ark Nova, Terraforming Mars, CATAN, Ticket to Ride, and hundreds of others are available to play online for just $3.00 per month, billed at $36.00 yearly.

Bottom Line

Azul is such a versatile game that it fits well in virtually any collection. The Azul series has progressively moved further and further away from the simple gameplay mechanics that made the title famous, but it has still managed to maintain a cohesive look and feel throughout. For most players, the first entry is an excellent place to start with multiple options to level up to afterward. Queen’s Garden offers something for hardcore strategists while Summer Pavilion lies somewhere in between. Of course, many of these titles can be purchased well under the stated MSRP at retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart. To potentially score the best price, make sure to follow our board game deals coverage which is constantly updated with the latest sales.

For some great tabletop recommendations, see our collections of the best four-player board games in addition to our picks for the best two-player board games.