I’m a big fan of tiki culture. The modern tiki culture and aesthetic is, of course, evolved from the cultures and art of the South Pacific. At the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle of said South Pacific lays one of the most remote inhabited islands on the planet. An island immediately recognizable by the nearly 1000 moai statues on the island. Easter Island. Although not as ostentatious as most tiki art, the moai are nevertheless ubiquitous. I’m also a huge fan of abstract strategy games. So when I saw University Games had an abstract strategy game themed around Easter Island, I was naturally intrigued.
Sneaky Statues of Easter Island is an introductory-level abstract strategy game. The pieces are numbered 1-8 with the first player controlling odd numbered pieces, and the second player controlling the even pieces. They are placed on the board, and then moved on the board, in sequential order. The goal is for a player to get all four of their pieces lined up in a row. Moving them one piece at a time, in numerical order. Super straightforward.
The overall design of the game is beautiful. The board is moulded plastic, in the approximate shape and topography of Easter Island and the pieces are designed after the moai statues. The design is one of the things that makes this game ideal for classrooms and younger players. It not only teaches critical thinking skills as a game, but it inspires the need for knowledge. It opens the doors for conversations. What are the moai statues? Where did they come from? Why is it called Easter Island? It can even introduce deeper topics like colonialism and cultural genocide.
With that said, it’s definitely a game best suited for a younger player base. I played with 11 year old and they didn’t find it particularly challenging. We had fun spending time together, but we quickly moved on to a different game. If you’re a parent or a teacher, I would wholeheartedly recommend Sneaky Statues of Easter Island. If you run a tiki bar and are looking for games people can learn after a few drinks, this will work. If you are looking for a challenging abstract strategy game, you may be better off passing on this particular game though.
This is a short review but, honestly, it doesn’t need to be more than this. Great theme. Good game for young players, a bit simple for experienced players. See? Could have been shorter.
You can find out more about University Games online at www.universitygames.com or on their facebook page: facebook.com/UniversityGamesUSA.
