Yama a more challenging 4-in-a-row game than most

When Yama arrived, and I cracked the cellophane seal and dug into the bo, I was immediately impressed.

This one, from designer Khanat Sadomwattana – we reviewed his game Wana back in August 2023 – has great components, from the chunky wooden game pieces to the wooden board set on a ‘lazy susan,’ which is essential here and also very cool – so kudos to publisher Very Special Games (www.veryspecialgames.com).

Yama is a 2024 release, a two-player abstract strategy game with one of the most basic win connections – getting four in a row.

So the pieces are shared. Three sides in white and three in blue — I admit I would have preferred black and white. A player selects a colour and attempts to get their four before the opponent.

The neat feature with Yama is that the rotating triangular board contains triangular slots that stand the cube up on its corner – revealing three sides, each of which can be seen from a different point of view. And it is in one of these three points of view in which you must try to form your line of four-in-a-row, so you turn the board and look at only one of its three faces.

That’s really it in terms of rules, you place cubes – at some point you will be able to move up a level – building a sort of mountain as you seek four in a row.

While so simple – you can teach it in minutes – it can be tricky to see what is developing. Wins and losses often seem to be simply bumped into rather than planned, at least as you initially explore Yama. However, there is depth here that is quickly obvious, but needs game experience to properly delve.

The three-dimensional aspect of the victory goal and the three-dimensional aspect of the cube placement can be very tricky to wrap your head around.

However, games, again as you learn, are quick, so playing just one more and then another, etc., does build experience rather quickly.

Yama, which is a 2025 Mensa Recommended game, will not be for everyone, but over a coffee, this one offers enough depth to enjoy over many weeks.