RECTO VERSO
New kid on the blocks
Designer: Inka and Markus Brand | Publisher: Super Meeple and Tiki Editions
“I can’t see the grey block! I can see two yellows. Two yellows. TWO! We’ve only got 10 seconds. Where’s the white? The white! Can you see a white? I can’t see a white. Hide the white. I SAID TWO YELLOWS! Yes. Yes! It goes there. THERE! Done!”
And that, folks, is a very typical exchange in Recto Verso - a tactile, block-building game that requires you and a partner to work together to arrange up to 11 chunky wooden blocks in a particular pattern while racing against the clock. The issue is that each of you can only see one side of the completed pattern, so you must communicate and (hopefully) explain where certain blocks have to be placed.
In the competitive version of Recto Verso, you select sets of player colour tokens, then randomly mix them together. The tokens are then randomly selected to give you a potentially different partner each turn, which is a nice touch to ensure two particularly skilful builders don’t dominate. With the players chosen, you draw a building card from the two difficulty options: normal and hard. The normal cards only use 10 blocks, while the hard cards use all 11 blocks, including the mighty red brick.
The card is then placed between the players on the game board, which is actually the game box. On each side of the card a player will see a 2D pattern of blocks that they must then replicate on their side. The issue is, of course, that each pattern is subtly different, depending upon which side you’re looking at. As a result, you have to work together (normally by shouting, to be honest) to place all the available blocks in the correct patterns.
Sometimes blocks will be completely hidden within the structure too, so you have to fathom where they’re placed so neither player can see them.
Each round is played against the clock. Depending upon how quickly you complete the challenge, you score more points. The timed element means that each round is frantic and there’s a true sense of satisfaction when you complete a card in a matter of seconds. The timed element helps to keep downtime to a minimum - however, with six players and the random player selection, you can end up with a situation where someone is waiting longer than others to have their turn. As a result, we found it much better with four players.
There’s also a two-player version that’s entirely co-operative. In this mode, you and a partner attempt to complete seven cards against the clock. Starting at 90 seconds, each time you successfully finish a build, you reduce the time until you end up with only 15 seconds. Completing a challenge in just 15 seconds is actually quite the rush, because it’s so difficult and you’ll have a wonderful sense of smug satisfaction if you complete all seven challenges… even if it’s only you and your partner there to witness your epic achievement.
Thanks to the normal and hard cards, plus the addition of a two-player mode, there’s certainly plenty of replayability in Recto Verso and it’s become a regular addition to our family game nights - particularly as set-up is almost nonexistent. Younger players love the tactile element of the big wooden blocks, while the harder challenges ensure fun for adults looking for a light-weight filler.
Don’t let the colourful presentation and toy-like wooden blocks fool you: Recto Verso is capable of packing quite a punch - particularly if you want to complete the hard challenges in 15 seconds.
ROB BURMAN
WE SAY
If you like fast-paced, tactile board games then Recto Verso definitely ticks that box.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
◗ Game board
◗100 Victory Point tokens
◗30 small hexagonal Partner tokens
◗6 large hexagonal Player tokens
◗11 wooden construction pieces
◗64 Building cards (normal and hard)
TRY THIS IF YOU LIKED KITTIN...
Although Recto Verso loses the insanely cute polyomino-shaped kittens, it still features the same fast-paced, block-building action.