Shobu Review, an abstract strategy game that feels like it could have been around for years
Channel: Tabletop Bellhop
Date: 2023-09-01

In this podcast segment we review Shobu from Smirk & Laughter games. This is a chess-like abstract strategy game that's quick to learn but oh so difficult to master. The game seems simple at first but then gets more involved as more stones are removed from play. It also looks fantastic on the table. 

This review is one segment of episode 216 of The Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast, Pub Crawl, watch it here: https://youtu.be/yafCrGCBhUM?si=7feMnz1LxcQYOOXD

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Disclosure: Thank you to Curt from Smirk & Laughter for letting us take a review copy of this card game home from Origins. Links in these notes may be affiliate links. As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. 

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Timestamps:

00:00 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
01:13 SHOBU COMPONENT QUALITY
02:23 HOW TO PLAY SHOBU
03:48 OUR THOUGHTS ON SHOBU
07:06 SHOBU AWARD NOMINATIONS
08:30 WHO SHOULD BE PICKING UP SHOBU?
08:43 CLOSING AND WHERE TO FIND MORE

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From the publisher:

SHOBU is a beautifully crafted abstract strategy game for two players.

​On your turn:

​Move one of your stones up to two spaces in any direction, including diagonally.

​Match that move with another of your stones on the opposite color board – and push an opponent’s stone off the board's edge.

​Remove all four of your opponent's stones from any ONE board to win.

SHOBU is made of beautiful, natural elements, wood boards, a cotton rope divider and tumbled river stones as playing pieces, giving it incredible table appeal. Instantly familiar, yet wholly unique unto its own, SHOBU feels like a game that has stood the test of time. The rules are amazingly simple and can be learned in moments, yet halfway through your first game, you realize the game has a depth and spatial challenge similar to 3-D chess. 

Simply brilliant.

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Head over to the Tabletop Bellhop blog where you'll find more tabletop gaming content, including game and game night advice, reviews, and more: https://tabletopbellhop.com 

Check out our written review on the blog:
https://tabletopbellhop.com/game-reviews/shobu/

Pick up your own copy of Shobu
US: https://amzn.to/47On8IW

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