There are games that leave you in awe of their quality when they hit the table — and Blockoff definitely falls into that category.
The game feels almost over-produced, in the best possible sense. It’s entirely 3D printed — board and pieces alike — rendered in bright yellow and blue, so it really pops on the table. Bring this one out at a coffee shop, and you’re bound to attract some curious eyes.
Also worth noting is that the designer, Nate Denham, was just 12 years old when he created the game — so kudos to the young creator, and a pat on the back to the family for helping make it available through www.blockoff.fun.
But how does it play?
Blockoff is an abstract strategy game that feels like a step up from classic Xs and Os — still straightforward, but with just enough extra depth to keep things interesting. The rules can be learned in about 90 seconds.
The game supports two to four players, each starting with their pieces in the corners of a 6×6 grid. On a turn, players must complete a move of three spaces without landing on the same spot twice (diagonal moves count as two). After moving, you place a tile to block off an open space.
If you can’t complete your full movement, your piece is removed from the board. The goal is simple: be the last player with a piece remaining.
That’s it — that’s the entire game.
A bit of quick math tells you that in a four-player game, you’ll get a maximum of around nine moves before things tighten up. In two-player sessions, I found that matches often end with players boxed in even though there are still open spaces on the board — they just can’t reach them.
Blockoff is quick — perhaps too quick to satisfy die-hard abstract strategy fans. But its eye-catching design, easy-to-learn rules, and snappy gameplay make it an excellent introduction for younger players. It’s the kind of gateway game that could lead them toward deeper titles like Othello, Chess, or Hive.
If you’ve got budding gamers in the family, this one would look pretty good under the tree in a few months.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Production quality so high in this one
The game feels almost over-produced, in the best possible sense. It’s entirely 3D printed — board and pieces alike — rendered in bright yellow and blue, so it really pops on the table. Bring this one out at a coffee shop, and you’re bound to attract some curious eyes.
Also worth noting is that the designer, Nate Denham, was just 12 years old when he created the game — so kudos to the young creator, and a pat on the back to the family for helping make it available through www.blockoff.fun.
But how does it play?
Blockoff is an abstract strategy game that feels like a step up from classic Xs and Os — still straightforward, but with just enough extra depth to keep things interesting. The rules can be learned in about 90 seconds.
The game supports two to four players, each starting with their pieces in the corners of a 6×6 grid. On a turn, players must complete a move of three spaces without landing on the same spot twice (diagonal moves count as two). After moving, you place a tile to block off an open space.
If you can’t complete your full movement, your piece is removed from the board. The goal is simple: be the last player with a piece remaining.
That’s it — that’s the entire game.
A bit of quick math tells you that in a four-player game, you’ll get a maximum of around nine moves before things tighten up. In two-player sessions, I found that matches often end with players boxed in even though there are still open spaces on the board — they just can’t reach them.
Blockoff is quick — perhaps too quick to satisfy die-hard abstract strategy fans. But its eye-catching design, easy-to-learn rules, and snappy gameplay make it an excellent introduction for younger players. It’s the kind of gateway game that could lead them toward deeper titles like Othello, Chess, or Hive.
If you’ve got budding gamers in the family, this one would look pretty good under the tree in a few months.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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