Tanis

• Designer: Phil Walker-Harding 
• Publisher: Eagle-Gryphon Games
• Players: 2
• Age: 14+
• Time: 20-30 minutes
• Played with review copy provided by publisher

TANIS, named after the ancient city in Lower Egypt, is a unique tile-digging game for 2 players. The game begins with 40 beautiful wooden domino-sized tiles randomly placed in the custom-made box. These tiles represent pieces of scrolls that the players are trying to reassemble in this fast-playing competitive game. The players also have cards that provide special powers that may be used to enhance their actions. A single game takes under 20 minutes to complete.

For this review, let me tell you about the game starting at the end.  It’s a two player game, and the player with the most points wins.  You score points based on your collection of tiles – you score points based on the size of your sequential series in each suit.  Scoring is 14/10/7/4/2 points for 6+/5/4/3/2 sequential tiles.

There are 40 tiles in the base game, four suits each going 1 to 10.  On a turn, you have two options: you can either collect any fully visible tile or you expend one of your special cards, resolving its ability and then collecting tile(s).   

Players start the game with 6 special cards – each only usable once per game.

• Explorer (3) – slide a tile in one direction, must stay on the same level, must always be supported – and then choose any fully visible tile
• Excavator (2) – discard any one fully visible tile, and then draw any fully visible tile
• Expert (1) – take any visible tile, then take a second tile but it must be a different suit as the first tile

As you collect tiles, place them in front of you.  The rules recommend arranging them by suits, keeping directly adjacent tiles touching each other and gaps left in between non-sequential tiles.

So, finally, the setup.  The forty tiles are arranged face down in the box lid into four distinct layers.  Each layer is constructed such that no tile is fully covered by another single tile above it.  Once the whole dig site is constructed, the other part of the box is placed on it; the whole thing is flipped over and then the top removed.  Now, you can see the tiles face up in the box.

Each tile has two halves, the rank (always in black) on one half and then the colored suit icon on the other half.  Thus, as tiles are removed from the box, and as the setup starts with no tile fully obscuring another tile, as new tiles are exposed, you’ll generally only see one half of the information needed – either the suit or the number.

My thoughts on the game

Tanis is a quick tactical 2p game.  The goal is simple – collect tiles that are sequential in order.  Much of the challenge in the game comes from choosing between different options.  You will often have multiple visible tiles at the start of your turn.  You may have to choose between different options; one that helps your own scoring quest but maybe others that hinder your opponent’s scoring.  

Of course, you can swing things in your favor using your special cards.  Each can only be used once, but they all can help you gain an advantage over your rival.  You should always keep your eye open for times to use your cards as there is no benefit to keeping them unused.  Explorer can be used to expose a tile for yourself OR to cover up a tile your opponent wants.  Excavator is really good to deny your opponent a long string of consecutive numbers and/or can be used to simply reveal a more desirable tile underneath.

As the game progresses, you’ll also get to use some of your deductive skills.   As I mentioned earlier, tiles generally first appear only by half – and you will have to try to deduce what the other half of the tile might be.  Sometimes it’s simple elimination (as you can always see previously collected and excavated tiles) – and sometimes you just have to make an educated guess on what might be underneath.  And, of course, you can use your cards at times to either slide or remove tiles to see more information.

The game is tense from the start, and players are often placed in a position of choosing between two or even three different tiles.  The setup is a little fiddly, but it makes sense to have the tiles corralled in the box top because it prevents any tiles from being mistakenly revealed.  It might be hard to get tiles on a lower level, but the game does include two clever little plastic tile raisers which can be used to pry out a tile without moving the rest of the pile.

For those looking for a nice tight 2p game, Tanis should be a great option.  The game also includes components for varied play including more complex tiles as well as advanced action cards. This should give you plenty of options on how to play and give the game some increased replayability.

Ratings from the Opinionated Gamers

• I love it!
• I like it. Dale Y
• Neutral. Lorna
• Not for me…