The Royal Game of Ur is one of the oldest known board games, and, at least according to the most common interpretation of the rules, is a funThe Royal Game of Ur is one of the oldest known board games, and, at least according to the most common interpretation of the rules, is a fun and competitive racing game as two players roll their pieces onto, across, and off the board, somewhat reminiscent of earlier versions of backgammon. Your opponent's pieces can be captured, forcing that piece to restart its journey all over again, and this is where the strategy lies: you need to play offensively in order to win, but you also need to plan your moves defensively to avoid your pieces getting thrown off the board when you least expect it.
Considering the relative obscurity of the game, this isn't the only version of the Royal Game of Ur to be found. This is, however, one of the best. The AI plays a very good game, especially on the hardest difficulty level, when it will give you a run for your money as it's nearly fearless in its moves. The atmosphere of the game is subtle, yet effective. The controls are simple: roll your "dice" and point to the piece you want to move that number of spaces. You can customize the number of pieces you want to play with (fewer pieces means a shorter game), and you can also choose between a linear path and one which has you take a more circuitous route at the end, which I prefer, as the simpler version eliminates the threat of capture in each piece's endgame.
Whether you're already a fan of the grandfather of all racing games or whether you're interested in learning to play a true relic in the long history of board games, this is an excellent way to enjoy it.…Full Review »