Azul Apr 2026

The Elegance of Tile-Laying: An Exploration of Azul Since its release in 2017, Michael Kiesling’s Azul has become a modern classic in the board game world, celebrated for its blend of tactical depth, tactile satisfaction, and striking visual design. Inspired by the azulejo —the distinctive blue-and-white tiles brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors—the game tasks players with decorating the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora. While its theme is rooted in history, Azul is ultimately an abstract puzzle that challenges players to balance short-term efficiency with long-term strategic positioning. The Mechanics of Artistic Draftsmanship

Despite its accessibility, Azul offers significant strategic depth. Advanced players focus on: *UPDATE* I Wrote my Dissertation on Azul : r/boardgames The Elegance of Tile-Laying: An Exploration of Azul

The core of Azul lies in its elegant drafting system. Players select tiles from a series of circular "factories" or a central pool, but the choice is never simple. Picking one color requires a player to take all tiles of that color from a given source, pushing the remainder into the center. This creates a shifting economy where players must predict not only which tiles they need, but which tiles they might force upon their opponents. Picking one color requires a player to take