Ingenious

Games from the Cellar

Join us as we put on our thinking caps and take on the Reiner Knizia classic, Ingenious.

Ingenious, designed by Reiner Knizia, was first published by KOSMOS and Fantasy Flight Games in 2004. Ingenious was nominated for the Spiel des Jahres in 2004 and won a Golden Geek Award for Best Family Game in 2006.

Episode Summary

Discover the magic of Ingenious, the ultimate family strategy game, as we explore its abstract gameplay, colorful design, and exciting twists and turns. Designed by Reiner Knizia, this game is reminiscent of classics like Uno, Scrabble, and Qwirkle. Prepare to be enthralled as we share our personal experiences and clever strategies while discussing the unique scoring system and the pure joy of shouting "Ingenious!" when you achieve a full row.

During our lively chat, the panel delves into the evolution of Ingenious as players take turns, capitalizing on points and finding themselves running out of space on the board. We recall cutthroat moments such as when Chris blocked a crucial tile placement, proving that Ingenious can be both fun and competitive. You won't want to miss our thoughts on how this game could be adapted for family play or cranked up a notch for more intense competition.

Finally, we discuss why Ingenious is an excellent game to introduce to new players, thanks to its simple rules and lack of a theme, making it easy to understand and enjoy. Hear us rave about the colorful pieces and accessibility, sharing our thoughts on potential adaptations for different age groups. Give this episode a listen and find out why we wholeheartedly agree Ingenious… Ingenious!!!

Chapters (0:01:00) - Ingenious (0:08:49) - Strategic Gameplay in Ingenius (0:13:14) - Adaptability of Ingenius (0:26:27) - A Fun and Accessible Game

Chapter Summaries

(0:01:00) - Ingenious (8 Minutes) The panel explores the game, Ingenious, from Reiner Kniziia. We discuss the game's abstract strategy style and how it works, how the pieces have bright colors and shapes, and how the goal is to match colors and shapes with something already on the board. We discuss how the game is like Uno, Scrabble, and Qwirkle, and when someone gets to eighteen in a particular color, they get to shout “Ingenious!” and take an extra turn.

(0:08:49) - Strategic Gameplay in Ingenius (4 Minutes) We chat about our experience playing Ingenius and the strategies we used. We discuss how the game changes as people play, from exploring the board to capitalizing on points and running out of space. We also comment on the cutthroat nature of the game and how it felt to be undercut by Chris.

(0:13:14) - Strategic Gameplay in a Simple Game (13 Minutes) We discuss how the game evolves as players take turns, how to take advantage of the area control aspect, and how to strategically place tiles to block other players. We also consider how the game could be adapted for a family setting, as well as how to play the game in a more competitive manner. We explore how the game's scoring system encourages players to be adaptive and not concentrate on a single color.

(0:26:27) - A Fun and Accessible Game (2 Minutes) We discuss why Ingenius is a great game to introduce to people. We appreciate the lack of a theme which makes it easier to understand and the fact that there is an element of thought and strategy involved. We also express our appreciation for the colorful pieces and why Sam would consider purchasing it one day.

Show notes created with assistance from https://podium.page

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