Genius Square^*

Genius Square is a quick puzzle game for one or two players: dice place the blockers, then you race to fill a 6x6 grid with shapes.

Published by Smart Games, it works from age 6 and is fun for kids and adults alike.

What's it about?

Each player has a 36-square board, nine different shapes and seven blockers. Seven dice decide where the blockers go. Then the race begins: the first to fill every remaining square with their shapes wins the round.

How it plays

1. Roll all seven dice.
2. Put a blocker on each rolled coordinate, same for both boards.
3. Fit your nine shapes in at the same time until the grid is full.

According to the publisher there are 62,208 possible setups, and every one can be solved. Sometimes you spot the answer at once. Sometimes you sit there for minutes, turning one piece after another.

What's in the box

• Two boards with a 6x6 grid
• Two sets of nine shapes
• Blockers and seven coordinate dice

Who is it for?

A session takes 5 to 30 minutes, depending on how many rounds you play. Solo, it is a brain teaser against the clock. With two, it turns into a tense little duel. It trains spatial thinking without feeling like homework.

Conclusion

A smart puzzle with almost no rules to explain. Ideal for short breaks, travel or as a learning game. If you want to play with more than two, you will need extra copies.