Santorini is an abstract from Roxley Games listed at 2 to 4 players, 20 minutes, ages 8 and up. Move a worker then build; first onto a third level wins. Each side draws a god power that bends one rule, which is what gives the game its variety.
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Santorini is the best-looking game on this site by a distance -- a three-dimensional island that grows as you play, in chunky molded pieces. That matters more than aesthetics usually do, because it is genuinely persuasive to someone who does not think board games are for them.
The base rules are almost trivially simple. The god powers are why you would keep it.
01
The base game is a teaching tool, not the game
Without powers: move one of your two workers one space, then build a block adjacent to it. Reach the third level and you win. That is a complete, playable, slightly thin abstract, and it is the right way to teach a first game.
Then each player draws a god power that breaks one rule -- moving opponents, building differently, winning under an alternate condition. The asymmetry is the game. Two powers against each other produce a specific puzzle, and swapping either one produces a different one.
Practically this means the box holds dozens of variants rather than one game, and it is the reason Santorini survives on a shelf where a pure abstract of this weight would not.
02
Plays at two, not built for two
Roxley lists 2 to 4 players, so under this site's rule Santorini is a Plays at two game. In practice two is where it is best -- the god power interaction is a clean duel, and at three or four the turn order manipulation gets muddy.
But it is worth being straight about what that means for a buyer whose only requirement is two players: some of the design budget went to player counts you will never use, and a two-player-only abstract like Onitama or Hive will be tighter for the money.
03
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want a two-player-only design. It supports up to four and the base rules are noticeably thin without the god powers, which is a real consideration if you want the box to be maximally efficient at your player count.
Skip it if the powers sound like unbalance to you. They are not symmetrical and some matchups are lopsided. Most players treat that as variety; if you want a fair, symmetric contest every time, Onitama does that and Santorini does not.
What we would buy
Picks drawn from the games covered on this site, chosen against the criteria above.
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The best-looking game here, and the god powers turn a simple abstract into dozens of different games.
A supports-more abstract that plays well at two. Move a worker, then build. First to step onto a third level wins -- and each side draws a god power that bends one rule.
Players
2-4
Playing time
20 minutes
Age
8+
Designer
Gord Hamilton
Publisher
Roxley Games
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want your two-player game to be two-player only. It supports up to four, and the base rules are thin without the god powers.
Perfect information, sixteen move cards, and a rules explanation that takes under two minutes.
A two-player-only abstract on a 5x5 grid. Five move cards are in play at once and they physically pass between the two of you, so arming yourself always arms the opponent.
Players
2
Playing time
15 minutes
Age
14+
Publisher
Arcane Wonders
Who should skip it
Skip it if you dislike losing to a mistake you can see clearly in hindsight. Nothing is hidden, so every loss is yours.
Chess without a board, in tactile tiles, and it survives the hundredth game better than most.
A two-player-only abstract strategy game with no board: 22 tactile tiles that build the playing surface as you place them. Surround the opposing queen bee to win.
Players
2
Playing time
20 minutes
Age
9 and up
Publisher
Gen42 Games
Box size
210mm x 210mm x 50mm
Who should skip it
Skip it if abstract games leave you cold. There is no theme here to carry you through a bad position.
No. Roxley Games lists 2 to 4 players. It is best at two, but it was designed to support more, so we label it Plays at two.
+−Do you need the god powers to enjoy Santorini?
Effectively yes. The base rules are a clean but thin abstract; the powers are what give the box its variety and replay value.
+−How long does Santorini take?
Roxley states 20 minutes, which is realistic. The rules teach in a few minutes and most of the thinking time is in the power interaction.
+−Are the god powers balanced?
Not strictly. Some matchups favor one side. Most players treat the variety as the point; if you want a perfectly symmetric contest, Onitama is the better choice.
