Balance your eternal struggle between light and darkness.
I am always keen on finding unique small games that can be played in a short amount of time. I picked this one up a long time ago on one of the many adventures my husband and I went on. We used to always buy one new game on each trip. Equinox was one of those games.
The font looked cool, the name could be read upside-down, and the design was minimalistic in black and white with constellation-like iconography. It's definitely my style. To our surprise, it was quite an enjoyable little game that required more strategy than expected.
In the dueling game Equinox, each player is either white or black. There are a variety of hexagonal tiles, each with a constellation of light and dark times that happen during one’s lifetime. For example, constellations representing “freedom” or “disease.” Each tile consists of a simple action that can change the color of previously placed tiles on the board or score you points. At the end of the game, whichever player with the most point tokens and colored tiles on the board wins!
Mechanics & Categories: Area control, Tile placement, Take-that
ZEN
Something about the simplicity of black and white tiles and constellations is calming. Like chess, players can sit relaxed, anticipating their opponent’s next move. As more and more tiles are placed, the starry sky becomes mesmerizing. Take in all the different shapes and colors you have placed to create something beautiful and balanced.
A TALE OF CIVILIZATION
Light and darkness comes and goes. For every sunny day, there is a storm. For every wartime, there is peacetime. Man created swords of stone, so they also created shields of wood. The wolves must survive by preying on sheep. One may remain loyal while another betrays.
A world full of natural force, resources, innovation, and interactions can be seen throughout the playtime of Equinox. Everything has a balance. There is never one tile that doesn’t have its counterpart. Only time will tell which player will become victorious. The odds sway with each tile placed.
SIZE DOES NOT IMPACT ITS QUALITY
When I see a game so simple, I often think the components will be basic. I was thrilled to find out that in addition to several thick cardboard hex tiles, there were golden, flat, glass marble stones for points, as well as a black velvet bag. Being able to pack this small box in a backpack or putting all of the components in one soft bag is a huge win in my book.
I am always thrilled to see publishers and designers putting quality first. It goes to show that no matter how small a game may be, that doesn’t mean they should cut corners. A great user experience speaks volumes when playing a game for the first time.
REMAIN MINDFUL
For such a simple game where all that needs to be done is to place a tile and perform its straightforward action, one must truly plan several steps ahead to succeed. As in many area control games, one wrong move might turn the tide on you.
There are a few tile actions exposed to each player. Due to this, depending on which tile you choose, you need to be ready for the other player to potentially “undo” the action you just chose. This game has a heavy amount of competition, so make sure you don’t go all in on any one area of the board, as it can quickly be taken away from you.
Final Comments
Equinox is a hidden gem of a game. I’m honestly not sure where you can find this game. I have seen one listing for well over what the game was purchased for. From its appearance, it may seem like a “no-name,” as other publishers are marketing their publications all over social media these days. I am thankful I chose to pick this one up and give it a go.
With our lack of two-player games, this game gives us the competitiveness of chess without taking hours to play. We both have to be in the mindset to play since it takes a lot of thinking to make the best choices possible. Equinox is less satisfying if you are randomly placing tiles.
Equinox is an excellent find if you are a deeper thinker looking for something quicker to bring along on your travels. I wouldn’t recommend playing with younger kids unless you genuinely don’t care about the final outcome and just want to perform the actions and see what happens.
Similar To: Othello, Sellswords, Lagoon
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Publisher: Asmadi Games
Game(s) Pictured: Equinox
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