In this way, Stained Glass of Sintra joins Queendomino as a follow-up to a Spiel des Jahres-winning game that builds on a simple gameplay hook with a slightly more complicated expansion of those ideas. The difference here is that where Queendomino and Kingdomino could be combined, the Azul games remain completely standalone, so there's not quite as much value in owning both. Player Count: Every game in the Azul universe is 2 – 4 players. They all use the same, trademark tile drafting system that scales incredibly well at that count and Azul vs Stained Glass of Sintra is no different. The modular boards make the game fiddly in a way the other two are not as you will flip and remove window panels throughout the game. This often results in bumping and disrupting your placed tiles if you aren’t careful. Here, for instance, there’s a glazier who limits which strips of the variable player board can be filled as they travel from left to right, forcing players to plan ahead to slot in as many panes as they can before the glazier is eventually reset to the left like a typewriter. The progressive movement of the glazier neatly counterbalances a combo system that makes filling in right-hand columns first more valuable, as any completed strips to the right of a newly-finished window add bonus points to that score, presenting the chance to set up game-winning combos with the right strategy. It's a notably different but no less interesting flow to Azul’s rewarding of adjacent tiles on a grid, and gives a nice structure and flow to each round.

The first time a window is completed four of the tiles on it are added to the glass tower and it is flipped over, being removed the second time around. The fifth tile, which is chosen by the player, slides down onto their player board for end game scoring. The window then scores based upon the number below it on the player board plus the points earnt by any previously completed windows to the right. Note when calculating these points to the right each is only awarded once for each column whether a window is completed once or twice. Bonus points are then awarded per tile of the rounds special colour. Gluing the pieces together is Azul’s clever take on tile-drafting, with players claiming one colour of the lozenge-like panes of glass from one of the circular factories on the table and leaving the remainder for their opponents (or them) to potentially sweep up off the floor later on and add to their arrangement.Each round a new color tile is wild which gives you something to plan for and work towards to help complete valuable sections on your board. If you are looking for a crunchy abstract game with a large lean toward the puzzle category, Azul: Queen’s Garden could be a good fit for you.

Here are our thoughts on the positive and negative elements of each game in the Azul series. Azul What Azul does best: The original is perfectly simple. With straightforward and easily understood rules, this is the least overwhelming in the series. It doesn’t try to get too cute with mechanics and that’s the beauty of it. For anyone familiar with Azul, winner of the 2017 Spiel des Jahres award, the tile-drafting mechanic of Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra is instantly recognisable. What you do with your tiles, however, is a different story. Stained Glass of Sintra - The Game With the introduction of the glazier pawn, the columns into which you can place tiles are limited unless you skip a turn to reset the pawn. You’ll also need to plan ahead carefully to ensure you are getting the most points out of every column you complete, timing it to complete on the right turn for bonus points and also trying to make the most of gaining extra points for columns already completed. To add even more variability, each column is double sided and flips over once complete, so the game setup with be very different every time.

VERDICT

Brandon (6 plays): Gameplay wise, Sintra does feel to have a bit more depth than Azul, but sometimes I do wonder if that depth is an illusion? Maybe I’m just conflating depth with just having a couple more choices. There is something to say about a game that makes you forget just how simple the game really is, and it’s another thing for a game to constantly remind you of things you have to think about. Sintra is less subtle than its predecessor in this way. The changes are in the forefront and they are noticeable and they make you think about them as you play. I do really enjoy Sintra though, and will save a space for it on my shelves right next to its predecessor. I think those who like the more variable side of the board in Azul will like the variable setup here in Sintra, and I think that folks who like to have a bit more control or choice will like Sintra as well. While some will definitely like keeping tiles from round to round, others may not find it restrictive or punishing enough. Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra should take around 40-50 minutes for a complete four-player game. Final Thoughts on Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra

Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra (created by Michael Kiesling) is a standalone game for two to four players – it is not an expansion to Azul. Thematically, players are competing to create the most impressive stained-glass panels for the Portuguese palace of Sintra. In turn, players draft coloured glass from a central pool of glass factories to gradually complete their design. There has been a bit of a mixed response to the inclusion of the ability to rest – effectively passing. Some have seen this as an unwanted addition, which can add a little analysis paralysis via more options on a turn. Whilst this is somewhat true it gives choices more meaning, as on future turns you can only build to the right, before resetting. This makes it extremely beneficial to reset just before the next round. Though what if there are tiles you want to take too? It gives a balancing act to manage and something to time – perfect for some but not everyone.

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Is that part of the game? Sure. But it can also feel quite mean and we suggest not playing that way if you want to keep things friendly. Move the Glazier by moving the Glazier to above the leftmost Pattern Strip. If the Glazier is already above the leftmost Pattern Strip this action cannot be taken.