Distrix: The Strategy Game
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Players: 2 Ages: 14+ Time: 30-60 min Box size: 8"x8"x2" |
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One of the most fundamental contests in gaming...
Two players, Red and Blue, battle to control a 6x6 region called The Matrix. The number in each square of the matrix equals power, and Red and Blue are equally powerful. During the game, players use colored tokens to group the squares into 9 districts, one square at a time. A different token color is used for each district. As districts are formed, power is unevenly allocated. Red controls some districts; Blue controls others. Whoever controls more districts at the end of the game wins.
The idea is simple, but you’ll be surprised by the complexity of this award-winning game of skill. In the Distrix world, strength in one region always means weakness in another, so all games are closely contested. To win, players must cleverly combine basic arithmetic, spatial awareness, and expert move timing in an attempt to control many districts by small amounts, not few districts by large amounts. The zero-sum landscape creates a tense experience from start to finish, and endgame surprises are remarkably common.
A devilishly challenging affair, Distrix has the visual simplicity, aesthetic elegance, and sophistication of play typical of classic two-player games such as chess and go. With profound tactics, several innovative features, a different starting matrix every time, and multiple variations/expansions, Distrix is a formidable game of strategy. Can you master the districts and win?
Two players, Red and Blue, battle to control a 6x6 region called The Matrix. The number in each square of the matrix equals power, and Red and Blue are equally powerful. During the game, players use colored tokens to group the squares into 9 districts, one square at a time. A different token color is used for each district. As districts are formed, power is unevenly allocated. Red controls some districts; Blue controls others. Whoever controls more districts at the end of the game wins.
The idea is simple, but you’ll be surprised by the complexity of this award-winning game of skill. In the Distrix world, strength in one region always means weakness in another, so all games are closely contested. To win, players must cleverly combine basic arithmetic, spatial awareness, and expert move timing in an attempt to control many districts by small amounts, not few districts by large amounts. The zero-sum landscape creates a tense experience from start to finish, and endgame surprises are remarkably common.
A devilishly challenging affair, Distrix has the visual simplicity, aesthetic elegance, and sophistication of play typical of classic two-player games such as chess and go. With profound tactics, several innovative features, a different starting matrix every time, and multiple variations/expansions, Distrix is a formidable game of strategy. Can you master the districts and win?
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Summary of play
- Decide who plays Red and who plays Blue
- Place 36 tiles in a random 6x6 matrix
- Players take turns beginning with the starting player
- In each turn, a player uses one colored token to (1) establish a district, (2) expand a district, or (3) reassign a tile from a large district to an adjacent smaller district
- Tokens are not player specific; all tokens are available to both players
- About 40 moves are played per game (20 by each player)
- The game ends when no legal moves remain
- Whoever controls more districts is the winner
A new way to form election districts in the USA?
Distrix is abstract yet relevant. The game introduces mechanics for dividing any region into a given number of districts of nearly equal size, one sector at a time. The same mechanics can be used to form election districts of nearly equal population within US states. Thus, the game offers a potential solution to America's gerrymandering problem. Instead of one political party rigging new election districts to its advantage, multiple political parties could form new election districts in a high-stakes game, one voting precinct (or county) at a time.
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Contents
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Reviews
Board's Eye View (Sept 15, 2021):
"...a well-designed abstract strategy game..."
"...quite challenging..."
"...a game where you'll need good spatial awareness..."
Board's Eye View (Sept 15, 2021):
"...a well-designed abstract strategy game..."
"...quite challenging..."
"...a game where you'll need good spatial awareness..."
Comments from the 2022 Mensa Mind Games Competition
"One of the best abstract strategy games I've played in a while, even with rules that self drive near the end. Board state matters, and the math and back-and-forth make for interesting strategic choices."
"I love abstract strategy games, and this one hit the mark in every possible way. Also, all the colored pieces kept the board vibrant and added a nice touch."
"Excellent, clear instructions. Breath of fresh air! Gives expectations clearly. Seriously, please heap praise onto writer and editors."
"The strategy was pretty complex and I look forward to playing it again."
"Creative game! I enjoyed it and feel like I'd pick up the strategy way better as I played more."
"Thought this would be a simplified version of Go (like Othello), but was pleasantly surprised. Enjoyable game."
"Bare-bones, but so fun. Bonus points for political commentary. :) Also a 'Go' fan."
"Clever strategy game. Instructions were right: final score was 5-4."
"Such a great game for explaining a complex concept."
"Quick to set up. I like the scoreboard setup. Didn't take long to play, so can be played multiple times."
"Good for deep strategy thinkers."
"Game was fun and I enjoyed playing it. The game played exactly how I anticipated it from the instructions."
"Loved the ease of scoring at the end."
"Simple board, complex rules, but clearly explained. Could be addictive. Worth buying."
"Would recommend to high school politics classes."
"I worried that the instructions wouldn't cover all the possible exceptions that could happen, but, for our game, it worked out well. Would play again."
"Interesting concept."
"Abstract strategy that is light on predicting ahead a dozen moves. Pretty fun."
"One of the best abstract strategy games I've played in a while, even with rules that self drive near the end. Board state matters, and the math and back-and-forth make for interesting strategic choices."
"I love abstract strategy games, and this one hit the mark in every possible way. Also, all the colored pieces kept the board vibrant and added a nice touch."
"Excellent, clear instructions. Breath of fresh air! Gives expectations clearly. Seriously, please heap praise onto writer and editors."
"The strategy was pretty complex and I look forward to playing it again."
"Creative game! I enjoyed it and feel like I'd pick up the strategy way better as I played more."
"Thought this would be a simplified version of Go (like Othello), but was pleasantly surprised. Enjoyable game."
"Bare-bones, but so fun. Bonus points for political commentary. :) Also a 'Go' fan."
"Clever strategy game. Instructions were right: final score was 5-4."
"Such a great game for explaining a complex concept."
"Quick to set up. I like the scoreboard setup. Didn't take long to play, so can be played multiple times."
"Good for deep strategy thinkers."
"Game was fun and I enjoyed playing it. The game played exactly how I anticipated it from the instructions."
"Loved the ease of scoring at the end."
"Simple board, complex rules, but clearly explained. Could be addictive. Worth buying."
"Would recommend to high school politics classes."
"I worried that the instructions wouldn't cover all the possible exceptions that could happen, but, for our game, it worked out well. Would play again."
"Interesting concept."
"Abstract strategy that is light on predicting ahead a dozen moves. Pretty fun."
Follow a Distrix game from start to finish
Use the buttons in the upper-left and upper-right corners to control the slideshow
Use the buttons in the upper-left and upper-right corners to control the slideshow
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