At first glance, KYBO looks simple, and in many ways it is. The goal is straightforward: build a pathway of connected pieces across the board. However, KYBO is deceptively “thinky,” offering far more strategic depth than its simple premise might suggest.
A new game from the father-and-son design team of Stéphane and Antoine Bernasconi, KYBO is still in development. In fact, the version we played was a prototype.
KYBO does not introduce anything particularly new in terms of its core mechanics. There have been plenty of games built around connecting opposite sides of a board, perhaps most notably the classic game Hex. Other games have taken that concept and incorporated blocks in various configurations to accomplish the same goal.
KYBO keeps its blocks simple. They are cubes, but the pathways you build are anything but simple. To win, you must create a connected route that twists, turns, and climbs across the board in three dimensions.
So why has this one caught our attention?
For starters, if the prototype is any indication, KYBO is going to be a beautifully produced game.
The cubes have a satisfying weight to them, thanks to magnets hidden inside. These magnets keep the pieces snugly in place on the board, which is particularly important given another clever component.
The board sits on a lazy Susan, allowing players to rotate the entire playing surface to get a better look at what their opponent might be developing on the opposite side. Thanks to those magnets, everything remains securely in place as the board turns.
The board itself also plays a much greater role than simply providing a surface on which to place pieces.
It is divided into sections that determine how high the cubes can be stacked. In the four central spaces, players can build up to four cubes high, while the outer ring allows only a single cube. The resulting structure resembles a pyramid, adding another layer of complexity as players must visualize how pathways develop across multiple dimensions.
You cannot simply look at what is happening directly in front of you. You need to consider connections above, below, and around the growing structure.
The page promoting the game’s upcoming Kickstarter campaign describes the experience this way:
“Simple rules open up a world of choices. You build upward, turn the board and discover possibilities along the tops and sides of the cubes. ‘Think 2D. Play 3D’. It invites you to look at connections from another angle, in a landscape that both players create.”
That is a pretty fair description of what KYBO delivers.
What makes KYBO particularly interesting is the flexibility it gives players as the game progresses.
In many connection games, you can reach a point where your opponent has effectively blocked your plans, leaving you struggling to find a way back into contention. KYBO feels different.
Because pathways can twist, climb, and change direction in three dimensions, there are often opportunities to adapt your strategy in the middle of a game. A route that initially appears blocked may still have a way forward if you look at it from another angle.
The possibilities are not always obvious, either. Some moves are surprisingly easy to overlook, which makes rotating the board and studying the structure from different perspectives an important part of the experience.
That is where KYBO really shines. The rules are easy enough to understand, but figuring out the best move can require some serious thought.
There is a satisfying sense of discovery when you suddenly spot a connection you had previously missed. Better still, those discoveries can sometimes turn what appears to be a losing position into a potential victory.
KYBO manages to make a familiar concept feel fresh without burying it beneath complicated rules.
The magnetic cubes are excellent, the rotating board is a clever addition, and the finished structure gives the game a striking three-dimensional appearance on the table.
Most importantly, KYBO plays very well. It offers the sort of accessible yet challenging experience that makes a good abstract strategy game worth returning to.
This one has great components, looks terrific, and delivers plenty of interesting decisions. For fans of connection games and abstract strategy titles, KYBO is definitely worth watching.
Keep an eye on Kickstarter for KYBO. Based on our experience with the prototype, this is a game with plenty of promise.
KYBO
At first glance, KYBO looks simple, and in many ways it is. The goal is straightforward: build a pathway of connected pieces across the board. However, KYBO is deceptively “thinky,” offering far more strategic depth than its simple premise might suggest.
A new game from the father-and-son design team of Stéphane and Antoine Bernasconi, KYBO is still in development. In fact, the version we played was a prototype.
KYBO does not introduce anything particularly new in terms of its core mechanics. There have been plenty of games built around connecting opposite sides of a board, perhaps most notably the classic game Hex. Other games have taken that concept and incorporated blocks in various configurations to accomplish the same goal.
KYBO keeps its blocks simple. They are cubes, but the pathways you build are anything but simple. To win, you must create a connected route that twists, turns, and climbs across the board in three dimensions.
So why has this one caught our attention?
For starters, if the prototype is any indication, KYBO is going to be a beautifully produced game.
The cubes have a satisfying weight to them, thanks to magnets hidden inside. These magnets keep the pieces snugly in place on the board, which is particularly important given another clever component.
The board sits on a lazy Susan, allowing players to rotate the entire playing surface to get a better look at what their opponent might be developing on the opposite side. Thanks to those magnets, everything remains securely in place as the board turns.
The board itself also plays a much greater role than simply providing a surface on which to place pieces.
It is divided into sections that determine how high the cubes can be stacked. In the four central spaces, players can build up to four cubes high, while the outer ring allows only a single cube. The resulting structure resembles a pyramid, adding another layer of complexity as players must visualize how pathways develop across multiple dimensions.
You cannot simply look at what is happening directly in front of you. You need to consider connections above, below, and around the growing structure.
The page promoting the game’s upcoming Kickstarter campaign describes the experience this way:
“Simple rules open up a world of choices. You build upward, turn the board and discover possibilities along the tops and sides of the cubes. ‘Think 2D. Play 3D’. It invites you to look at connections from another angle, in a landscape that both players create.”
That is a pretty fair description of what KYBO delivers.
What makes KYBO particularly interesting is the flexibility it gives players as the game progresses.
In many connection games, you can reach a point where your opponent has effectively blocked your plans, leaving you struggling to find a way back into contention. KYBO feels different.
Because pathways can twist, climb, and change direction in three dimensions, there are often opportunities to adapt your strategy in the middle of a game. A route that initially appears blocked may still have a way forward if you look at it from another angle.
The possibilities are not always obvious, either. Some moves are surprisingly easy to overlook, which makes rotating the board and studying the structure from different perspectives an important part of the experience.
That is where KYBO really shines. The rules are easy enough to understand, but figuring out the best move can require some serious thought.
There is a satisfying sense of discovery when you suddenly spot a connection you had previously missed. Better still, those discoveries can sometimes turn what appears to be a losing position into a potential victory.
KYBO manages to make a familiar concept feel fresh without burying it beneath complicated rules.
The magnetic cubes are excellent, the rotating board is a clever addition, and the finished structure gives the game a striking three-dimensional appearance on the table.
Most importantly, KYBO plays very well. It offers the sort of accessible yet challenging experience that makes a good abstract strategy game worth returning to.
This one has great components, looks terrific, and delivers plenty of interesting decisions. For fans of connection games and abstract strategy titles, KYBO is definitely worth watching.
Keep an eye on Kickstarter for KYBO. Based on our experience with the prototype, this is a game with plenty of promise.
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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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