Mandala

Mandala is a fantastic two-player abstract strategy game that I've been enjoying immensely. I was initially drawn to it because of its unique theme, which is based on the ancient ritual of creating and destroying sand mandalas. The game itself is simple to learn, but has a surprising amount of depth and strategy.

The game is played on a beautiful linen playmat with two mandalas, and each player has their own "field" and "river" to build up. You play cards to your field or to the central "mountain" area, trying to complete a mandala by having all six colors represented. Once a mandala is complete, players take turns claiming colors from the mountain and adding those cards to their "river" and "cup". The cards in your cup are worth points based on the position of their colors in your river, and the player with the most points wins.

I love the push-and-pull of this game, where you're constantly trying to balance scoring points with blocking your opponent. The game is also very interactive, as you're constantly watching what your opponent is doing and trying to anticipate their next move. It's a game that keeps you thinking on your toes, and I've found it to be incredibly engaging.

The components are also very nice. The linen playmat is a real treat, and the cards are well-designed and colorful. Overall, I highly recommend Mandala to anyone looking for a fun and strategic two-player game.