Originally published at: http://statelyplay.com/2018/02/28/onitama-is-nearly-here-and-asmodee-is-looking-for-beta-testers/
iOS, Android •
If you haven’t played Onitama from Arcane Wonders, you’re really in for a treat when the game lands on iOS and Android later this year. I’m not much of an abstract fan, but I fell in love with Onitama when I played it at Gen Con and can’t wait for Asmodee Digital to bring it to all my touchscreens. From the sound of it, we won’t have long to wait.
Onitama is a simple 2-player abstract in which each player has five pieces consisting of four students and one master. The goal is to either capture your opponent’s master or manage to move your master across the board and occupy your enemy master’s starting space. There are 16 “move” cards and for each game you will draw two for each player and then one more that is placed next to the board. The other 11 Move cards are placed back into the box, never to be heard from again.
Each turn a player will play one of his two Move cards, performing the move shown on the card, and then switching it with the Move card next to the board. Thus, each time you make a move you’re giving your Move card to your opponent.
That’s it. Each game takes about 10 minutes to play and then you can start up with all new Move cards, making each game a little different. It’s a fantastic little game that will make your brain hurt, but short enough that the pain is fleeting.
Earlier today, Asmodee Digital tweeted that they’re looking for iOS and Android beta testers to help get the mobile version of Onitama on the App Store.
No other information, but we can assume that a full release is close if they’re opening up the beta to plebs like you and me [Dave’s the only pleb I see around here -ed.]. If you want to sign up for the beta, head over here. You’ll have to sign in with your Asmodee account (you have one of those, right?) and then head to the beta test tab on the left side of the screen. Enter your device and information and, voilà, you’re in! Even more interesting is the fact that you can also sign up for the XenoShyft 2.0 beta. Not only didn’t I know that Asmodee had taken over XenoShyft from Cool Mini or Not, but the Dreadmire expansion content is coming at some point. Make that two betas entered.
[We know Dave botched the game explanation above--big surprise--so we've included the Watch It Played video demonstrating how the game works. Enjoy! -ed.]