OrthoGnomes

• Designer: Kotori
• Publisher: PhantomLab
• Players: 2
• Age: 8
• Time: 5-15 minutes

This game was provided by the publisher.

Summary:

OrthoGnomes is a clever 2 player strategy game which is played in a 3-dimensional space. This latest game from indie publisher PhantomLab and designed by Kotori, is based on her unique gnome world lore. The same world her previous game Palingnomes is set in. In her lore, it is said that long ago, Gnomes said that the Sun god and Ice god created a game to pass the time. Creating the seasons we have today – if the Sun god won it would be summer, if the Ice god one it would be winter. Players can play the game to see which side will win by creating lines of 4 in a row regardless of the depth in the point of view, not only on the 4 sides of the play area, but also from the top.

Gameplay:

In OrthoGnomes, the game is played over 2 rounds. Whomever has the highest score totaled over the 2 rounds is the winner. One player plays as light, and the other as dark. To score, players need to place the blocks on the game board to create as many lines of 4 of their own player color as they can. Each player gets 6 of their own blocks, with each block consisting of 3 cubes of colors.

Choose which player will go first, and that player places one of their blocks on the rotating game board to cover the starting space. Players alternate back and forth to place their block one at a time while also manipulating and rotating the game board so they can see all sides of the 3D play area – the North, South, East, West sides, and the top side.

Blocks can not be placed parallel to each other – they must always be perpendicular. Which makes it interesting as it builds blocks of various depths. Blocks cannot go outside the game grid – but you can build upwards as far as you like. Although if a player knocks over the blocks on the rotating game board they lose.

Since this game uses the physical space, the lines of colors don’t need to be on the same plane. Players can try to stack a block vertically and further back on the board in hopes they can eventually fill in the spaces in front and below it to make a line of 4. As players start building, they can start to see their lines of 4 forming. But they also need to pay attention to their opponent’s squares.

Once both players have placed all their blocks on the game board, the round ends. Starting from one of the sides, players count how many lines of 4 they created. They need to check all 4 sides, and the top face of the structure. They can tally up that number and write it somewhere. Then the start player for Round 2 switches to the other player. They play one more round and tally how many lines of 4 they created. Add up both numbers for both the rounds, and whomever has the highest total is the winner!

Impressions:

OrthoGnomes is a game that can be picked up by anyone with its easy rules, with some familiar concepts like getting 4 squares in a row, but also adding something new with the 3-dimensional space, the rotating game board and the depth of viewing the blocks. With only 6 blocks for each player, the game can play quickly. For those who like to plan and think they can take their time pondering all the moves to make. The block stacking adds a little bit of dexterity to it, and having to think about all 5 sides made me feel like I played a nice strategy game. Not too complex, but my brain still got a little work out. Also, the game quality is really nice and elegant. I thought it might be a small box game, but when it arrived the box had some heft to it, and the blocks have a nice weight to them.

I like abstract strategy games but sometimes they are not easy to bring to the table during game days. With Kotori’s games, they always have an interesting story which adds some flavor when teaching the game to new players and is family-friendly. I can totally imagine the Gnome gods playing this game. I can also see how this game is easy to bring out especially on game days when we are looking for a 2 player game that still has some nice strategy to it. I think players who also enjoy games like “Hey, That’s my Fish!” may also like this as well!

The version I have is the 2024 Japanese version that was released at the Tokyo Game Market, and I look forward to seeing and trying the new editions after their Kickstarter campaign.

Ratings from the Opinionated Gamers

I love it! – Mandy
I like it.
Neutral.
Not for me…