Azul

Azul was designed by Michael Kiesling and released in 2018 by Plan B Games, quickly becoming a modern board game sensation. The game draws inspiration from the traditional Portuguese azulejo tiles that have decorated buildings and landscapes throughout Portugal for centuries, transforming this rich cultural heritage into an elegant competitive experience.

The game's design brilliance lies in its deceptively simple tile-drafting mechanic that creates profound strategic depth. When you take tiles from a factory display, the remaining tiles move to the center—a mechanic that forces players to consider not just what they need, but what they're leaving for their opponent. This push-your-luck element makes two-player games particularly tense, as blocking becomes as important as building your own pattern.

Azul's critical and commercial success was remarkable. It won the prestigious Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) in 2019, one of the board game world's highest honors, and has sold millions of copies worldwide. The game's appeal transcends hardcore gamers; its beautiful component design, quick playtime, and accessible rules made it a gateway game for many new board gamers. Since its release, Azul has spawned several expansions and variants, each exploring new twists on the core tile-drafting formula while maintaining the elegant simplicity that made the original a masterpiece.