If you find yourself in a severe case of boredom, I highly recommend you take the time to try a really neat strategy board game called Abducktion. 

  The premise is simple: You are an intern for an organization of aliens who collect ducks for scientific research. The goofy artstyle and unique duck pieces really add to the charm of the game’s overall presentation. The idea is wacky, so the visuals are too. But does the gameplay hold up?

  I was expecting a challenging to comprehend list of instructions given the game’s emphasis on strategy, a game genre that often includes mountains of rules and abilities that clog up the gameplay and make inviting family to play particularly challenging. I was relieved to find a tiny booklet that explained the rules in less than 4 pages.

  The rules of the game are actually quite easy to follow: 10 ducks are placed on each player board, and you must use action cards (up to 3 per turn) to get the ducks into a formation detailed on a formation card. If you are successful, you take the formation card and gain its points. 

  The player boards are designed to flow with the removal and addition of ducks, and there are 4 unique colors to make formations with: yellow, white, blue, and pink.

  The simplicity of these rules allow almost anyone to pick up the game after the first round, and even strategize effectively. The strategy is introduced in the action cards, which are how the player can manipulate the ducks on the player board. Cards can let you swap the position of two ducks, or clear all ducks of a certain color from all player’s boards. The order at which you play your action cards is very important, so players must think their moves out before they play.

  The clear rules and fun artstyle create a perfect atmosphere for family game night, or a casual pass time with friends. 

  However, it can get competitive, and while playing the game I often found myself at the mercy of my brother’s critical strategy capabilities. This is perfect for those who want a challenge, and can battle their friend’s minds to see who is the best strategist.

  The game is created for casual and competitive board game players, is accessible to most ages, can support up to 4 players, and has a unique artstyle and presentation. Putting aside my bias towards any duck related content, I would highly recommend you give Abducktion a shot.