If you play games often, then perhaps you’re “moody” like me. Sometimes I want a game that is complex and deep; the challenge is the draw. Other times, I just want a light and easy game; spending time with others is the priority.

Shifting Stones definitely fits into that latter category. While it’s technically a competitive game (there is one winner), it doesn’t feel tense. When it’s not your turn, there is plenty of time to talk and laugh with others.

This abstract pattern game is super easy to learn, and I fell in love with its design as soon as I opened the box. The tiles are durable and interesting, and the rules are concise and well-written.

While the box states that you can play up to 5 players, I’d recommend sticking to 2 or 3 people for best results. (There are rules included for a single-player version. It isn’t too shabby – if you’re in to that sort of thing.) My biggest complaint for a game with 5 people is that the wait time between turns feels a bit long. Of course, people want to strategize and think through their moves, but the board will change by the time it gets back around to you. It feels like there’s no point in strategizing until the player directly before you is moving tiles.

I’ve included some of the specifics of the game below.

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Number of Players: 1-5

Age: 8+

Playing Time: 20ish minutes per round

Object: Form patterns within a 9-tile grid to score the most points.

Rules Rundown: Here’s a link to a digital copy of the rules.

Set up the board by randomly placing the 9 double-sided tiles in a 3×3 grid. Pass out 4 pattern cards to each player. On your turn, you can perform any number of the following actions using your 4 cards:

• Flip a tile (by “paying” with one of your pattern cards)
• Move a tile (by “paying” with one of your pattern cards)
• Score points for completed patterns

If you want, you can skip your turn in order to draw 2 additional cards, bringing your hand up to 6 cards. However, you cannot skip twice in a row.

When you’re finished with your actions, draw your hand back up to 4 cards so you’re ready for your next turn.

Rating: 7.5/10

Overall, I think it’s a great addition to your game collection – especially for the price!