SHOBU by Smirk and Dagger: 2 Player Abstract Strategy Board Game, with Wood Boards, River Rocks and a Rope, Beautiful, Challenging and Great Gift for Couples, Family, Adults and Kids Ages 10 and Up

Love this game! Strategy game similar to checkers/chess but more fun.Easy game to learn!

I gave this to my son for his birthday and we played a couple of games. This is an extemely easy game to learn how to play, but once you play some games you realize how much strategy is involved to play well. Wow. He beat me both times, he's 22 but has regularly been beating me at games like this since he was about 12, and I'm a decent game player. Like chess, there is zero luck involved in this game. Everything is in front of you- nothing is hidden, there are no cards to draw, no dice to roll. No lucky break you might catch, just your brains to rely on, and your opponents brains trying to beat you, which my son did well.The game we received was in fine condition, none of the issues other reviewers noted. Yes, it does seem expensive for what you receive, you can make your own pretty easily, but while you can make your own chess set too, but there's something nice about having a well made set to play on. At some point I'll probably replace the stones they include with some really nice polished malachite or something else I can pick up at a mineral show fairly cheaply, I may even have some in my collection.

Very elegant and simple teach. I know the rope is superfluous, it’s four wooden boards, and some landscaping stones but this is a case of the sum being greater than the pieces. The wood boards smell great also. Great game and completely worth it.

Great game, decent quality but if I had known how the board was made I might just got myself a few pieces of wood, carved or drew the lines and found some cool rocks out in nature. I get that it is nice to support game makers but seems high price for what you got.

My copy did arrive with oddly colored boards that don't match the product images, as noted in a couple of other reviews here, and missing a couple of black stones. However, upon contacting Smirk & Dagger via e-mail, I got a response within just an hour or so, with replacements promised for both - the stones immediately, and the boards upon their next printing. Apparently print run number two came with defects not present in the approval samples, which they're correcting as quickly as they can (thanks, COVID) in the next round.A high rating from me because (1) the customer support was immediate and excellent, and (2) just as importantly, the game is great. A ton of fun to play, creative and varied, and really enjoyably tactile. Manufacturing mistakes happen with small game runs, and I trust them to make good. Maybe give it a little time to get that third print run going, but if you're looking for 2 player games this should be on your rader.

Great 1:1 strategy game with a twist. Pieces are solid, though the paint job could be a bit better quality. Get your brain cells warmed up for this one.

We ordered this game to give us something to do during the quarantine besides Netflix. We were pleasantly surprised as to how easy it was to play but it’s a fun challenge to successfully strategize against the other player. I also chose it to play because with all the stress happening around the pandemic, Shobu has a relaxing zen like aesthetic

This is a great game, however as others have said the quality is lacking. The stained boards are, well, red. It’s not anywhere close to the dark brown color that you would expect from the pictures used to sell this. Also as others have mentioned groves separating the spaces aren’t straight. To add insult to injury you can see the saw marks where it got away from them a bit sawing into a space. If You have a table saw you would do better making it yourself. All boards are raw wood, they could easily be stained by dirty hands or water. The boards should have a coat or two of lacquer.