Azul is proof that a game can be both beautiful and vicious. Behind those gorgeous Portuguese-inspired tiles lies a game of tactical decisions, careful planning, and the occasional moment where you force your opponent to take tiles they desperately don't want. It's delightful.
What Is Azul?
In Azul, you're a tile-laying artist decorating the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora. Players take turns drafting colored tiles from shared factory displays, placing them in staging rows on their personal boards, and eventually moving them to their wall to score points.
The catch? When you take tiles from a factory, you must take ALL tiles of one color. Any tiles you can't use go to your "floor line" and cost you points. And here's where the brutality comes in: you can intentionally leave tiles that will hurt your opponents.
The game ends when someone completes a horizontal row on their wall. Final scoring adds bonuses for completed rows, columns, and sets of colors.
Why It's Perfect for Families
Azul hits a rare sweet spot: it's simple enough for kids to learn in one game, but deep enough that adults will still be discovering new strategies after dozens of plays.
My 8-year-old loves the tactile satisfaction of the chunky resin tiles. My teenagers love the strategic depth and the opportunity for clever plays. And I love that a game takes under 45 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight.
"Wait, you took those tiles just so I'd have to take the bad ones? That's so mean! ...I love it." — My 10-year-old, becoming a strategic thinker
The game also looks stunning on the table. Those tiles are genuinely beautiful, and watching your wall pattern emerge is satisfying in a way that few games achieve. It's a game that non-gamers will ask about when they see it.
The Good Stuff
- Gorgeous production: The tiles are weighty, colorful, and satisfying to handle
- Quick to teach: Core rules explained in 5 minutes
- Perfect length: 30-45 minutes is ideal for families
- Scales well: Great at 2, 3, or 4 players (different feel at each count)
- Low luck: Almost entirely skill-based once tiles are dealt
- Visible information: You can see what everyone is doing, enabling strategic play
The Not-So-Good Stuff
- Can feel mean: Experienced players can really punish newer ones
- Analysis paralysis: Some players overthink every tile selection
- Penalty system: Younger kids may get frustrated by negative points
- Quiet game: Less social than trading games like Catan
- Tile storage: Those beautiful tiles go everywhere if the box tips over (ask me how I know)
Playing with Different Ages
- With younger kids (8-10): Focus on completing rows, don't worry about blocking others yet
- With tweens (11-13): Introduce the concept of hate-drafting (taking tiles to hurt opponents)
- With teens: Play the full strategic game — they can handle it and will appreciate it
- Adults only: Consider the variant where you place tiles anywhere on the wall (included in the rules)
Azul vs. Azul Variants
The original Azul has spawned several standalone sequels:
- Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra — More complex, with transparent tiles and moving columns
- Azul: Summer Pavilion — Adds a star-shaped board and wild tiles
- Azul: Master Chocolatier — Same gameplay as original with chocolate-themed tiles
For families, I recommend starting with the original. It's the most elegant design and the easiest to teach. If you exhaust it (which takes a while), Summer Pavilion is a nice step up.
The Verdict
Azul is one of the best modern board games ever designed, full stop. It's accessible enough for casual family play but deep enough for serious gamers. It looks beautiful on the table, plays in under an hour, and creates memorable moments of tactical brilliance (and occasionally, tactical betrayal).
If your family enjoys puzzly, thinky games without a lot of luck, Azul should be near the top of your list. It's earned its spot as one of our most-played games.
Final Score: 9/10 — A modern classic that belongs in every collection