Zensu Strategy Board Game Review (Sent By Cheatwell Games) For 2 Players Aged 8+

Long time favourites Cheatwell Games have sent us a new game for review - Zensu. This is a turn-based strategy board game for 2 players aged around 8 or over. It is incredibly simple to play, but, like chess or draughts, it'll take a long while to master...

Zensu is a really beautiful game, packaged in a relatively small box. Aside from 2 reusable ziplock bags to store the wooden pieces, it is plastic-free. The playing pieces are printed wood, and the playing board is quite small, so you can play without having to clear a big space or move everything. 

No set up time is required, you just pull out the board and place the pieces, and anyone can begin to play immediately, so this is Christmas morning, and Christmas gathering-friendly. An average game has taken us around 15-20 minutes, but it's possible to finish in under 5 minutes, or if you are very strategic, a match can last half an hour. 

Zensu is at first glance an interesting mix between draughts and chess, but in reality it's very different to either. The aim of the game is to either reach your opponent's home territory with any of your playing pieces, or remove all of your opponents pieces from play, which you do by 'jumping' your pieces over them or landing directly on them.

Each player has 2 sets of 6 playing pieces - one set have a large number 1 and form the 'front line' (like pawns). The second set of pieces have a large 2, and form the 'home territory' back row.

The pieces all have the numbers 1-4 printed onto the surface, each inside a direction arrow, and can only move the same number of spaces as is shown, in the direction shown. Sometimes this means you cannot move in a selected direction, as it would take you off the board. Sometimes you may choose to move backwards, or sideways. You may only move 1 piece in 1 direction per turn, and there are no diagonal moves. The pieces never rotate, the large number always faces forward towards your opponent's territory.

A player may jump over their own pieces, but no 2 pieces can occupy the same space. Because you can jump over, as well as land on your opponents pieces, you can capture up to 4 and remove them from play in a single move. This adds a very interesting element of risk to the game, and can change a player's fortunes very swiftly. 

As the number of moves in any direction are printed on the pieces, you don't need to refer to rules or stop gameplay, it can be rapid-fire, although that's most often not wise and may mean you make errors or leave yourself open to losses.

When you first start to play, it is tricky to spot all of the available moves, especially useful long (4 space) or very short (1 space) sideways moves. I must say I still find it hard to remember that I can jump over my own pieces. As time goes on this becomes much easier and more intuitive. Once you get into the swing of it, and start to remember the patterns for moves for the '1' and '2' pieces, you can start to formulate some plans and tactics, but you'll never play the same game twice. 

One very important rule is that once a player has touched a piece, they must play it if they have any available moves. It is very easy to become complacent or distracted and make a foolish move that leaves half the field unprotected. No take-backs allowed! 

Zensu is a lot of fun. It can be really mentally competitive, and in honesty I'm rubbish at it, but I really want to improve. Each time I lose (which is often), I'm kicking myself for my own stupidity and want to try again. I have played quite a few games now, and I'm beginning to see a couple of moves ahead, but by crikey I can't get the hang of the jumping, and when I forget my opponent can jump, I leave myself open every time. The kids are delighted to play against me - they win pretty quickly every time - but I'm determined this won't be the story for long... 

Zensu strategy board game is available to buy now via Cheatwell Games, including on Amazon, rrp £24.99 (at time of typing reduced to £19.96). Suitable for 2 players aged around 8-99, this could become as much of a classic in your home as chess, backgammon or draughts...

We were sent Zensu to review for Cheatwell Games. I was not paid, and my review is my own words. Amazon links are affiliate, because I don't charge for reviews, but I still have to pay to keep the website going. If you buy through my link then I'll earn a few pence, but you'll never pay any more.