Ingenious

• Designer: Reiner Knizia
• Publisher: Kosmos
• Players: 1-4
• Age: 8+
• Time: 45 minutes
• Played with review copy provided by Thames&Kosmos

In Ingenious, a.k.a. Einfach Genial, players take turns placing colored domino-style tiles on a game board, scoring for each line of colored symbols that they enlarge. The trick, however, is that a player’s score is equal to their worst-scoring color, not their best, so they need to score for all colors instead of specializing in only one or two.

In more detail, the game includes 120 domino-style tiles, each consisting of two hexes; each hex has one of six colors in it, with most tiles having different-colored hexes. Each player has a rack with six tiles on it, and on a turn a player places one tile from their rack onto two empty hexes of the game board. (There are a few spaces with pre-printed icons on them).  The size of the playing area increases with higher playing counts.

For each hex on the newly placed tile, they score one point in that color for each hex of the same color that lies adjacent to it and each hex in a straight line from it. If a player brings the score of a color to 18, they immediately make another placement.  This bonus placement can also trigger further bonus placements; but remember that you do not draw any new tiles until the end of their turn, when players refill their rack to six tiles. Before refilling their rack, if they have no tiles on it that contain hexes in their lowest-scoring color, they can discard all of their tiles, then draw six new tiles from the bag.

When no more tiles can be placed on the game board or when one player scores 18 in each color, the game ends. If someone has maxed out all six scoring lines, they win immediately.  Otherwise, players compare their lowest scores, and whoever has the highest low score wins.

Ingenious includes rules for solitaire and team play; in the latter case, two teams of two play, with each player not being able to see their partner’s tiles and teams keeping a combined score that maxes out at 36 instead of 18.

In this most recent version, there is also a new 2-player Duel variant which uses a new scoreboard.  In this version, the scoring pegs start in the middle and there are 9 spaces on each side.  As you score, you move the pegs towards your side of the board; and if you are able to get the marker all the way to your end, you get a bonus action.  At the end of the game, the player with the majority of pegs on their side is the winner.  If there is a tie, look at the lowest scoring peg.  You can also win the game immediately if you can ever get all 6 markers on your side at any point in the game.

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The original version of the game was published in 2004, and it has been a staple of my game collection ever since.  This abstract game is quite elegant in its rules, and it has been one of my go-to gateway games since I first played it.  It has been winning awards since its initial release, including a nomination for the 2004 Spiel des Jahres.

There have been a number of different versions, and I’m happy to say that this most recent (2023) release brings back the original plastic pieces – which feel so much better than the cardboard chits in previous versions.  The side with the icons is flat, and there is a ridge on the underside – and this is also nice as it allows you to know which side has the good information on it and you can keep it hidden from your opponents more easily while drawing from the bag.  The tiles fit nicely on the black plastic racks which are included.  The score charts are thick punchboard affairs with nice knobby plastic markers that fit snugly in the holes.  I also think that it is worthwhile to mention that the insert has a super useful notch in one of the sides to give you a place to stick your finger and easily pull out the board.  I really wish more games did this!

The game has always appealed to me for the simplicity in the rules.  The rules generally can be taught in just a few minutes.  Despite that, the game still gives you interesting decisions to make.  Trying to figure out which tile is best to place (and where to place it) is key.  Early in the game, the turns often go fast as there is not as much to choose from with fewer pieces on the board.  As some colors get longer lines and larger areas, you start to be able to make plays where you might be able to make a nice score but then you shut down the opportunity for the next player to do the same.  Oftentimes, a cleverly placed tile will leave a single hex unfilled – and this becomes an unfillable space for the rest of the game.  This often can stymie a scoring opportunity!

From the mid-game onwards, the possibility of someone reaching the end of a scoring line is constantly present.  Timing here is still important; you don’t want to earn a bonus play without having a decent tile on your rack to use on it.  Don’t forget that once you have maxed out a line, you won’t really benefit from playing that color any more either…

The scoring system is peak Knizia – you want to have the best low score.  This is often a confusing way of stating it, and I have found that explaining it this way – the winner is the player with the most full sets (one point in each color).  If there is a tie for that, look for the most sets in five colors, etc.

The duel variant is new, and it is an interesting way to play, and I think something that spices up the two-player game.  I’ve never really been a fan of the team game for 4 players, but it’s available for you if you like that sort of thing.  For me, this is a game that is a staple of my game collection, and this newest version is the third or fourth version that I own.  I like having multiple copies in the house as I often use this to introduce people to gaming, and I often send newbies home with their own copy if they like it.  It can be played by nearly everyone; the icons are differently shaped to ensure that colorblindness isn’t an issue.  Ingenious is a classic and a game that I feel will be in my collection forever.

Thoughts from other Opinionated Gamers

Mitchell T: Like Dale, Ingenious is one of the longest-lived staples of my collection. I think it’s a brilliant game and I very much enjoy playing it. Unfortunately, my wife (my main gaming partner) has always gotten turned around by “the best minimum” scoring dynamic, so it’s been a long time since I’ve played it. Perhaps the new scoring that accompanies the variant will bring it back to the table. 

• Ratings from the Opinionated Gamers
• I love it! Dale Y, Mitchell T
• I like it. Matt C., Tery N
• Neutral.
• Not for me…