Kit Reviews - Tao Long: The Way of The Dragon

Tao Long: The Way of The Dragon, on it’s face is a two player strategy game where each player plays a dragon (Asian style) and tries to destroy their opponent. It is so much more than that, the levels of strategy in this simply presented board game are staggering. This extra level of strategy comes into play when we look at the Ba Gua, the little circular section of the game board where you control your dragons actions. You do this by moving coloured stones anti-clockwise around the circle, but have to move sections depending on how high the stack is. Not only do you have to keep track of your dragon and your opponent’s, but also where the stones are and what potential moves not only can you make, but also preventing your opponents from taking certain actions and limiting their choices. Not only is the base game beautifully deep and complex, but the basic box comes with game variants that add yet more levels of strategy and complexity. This is a beautiful game, not only in terms of it’s box art, but also it’s gameplay.

“No one wins a dance.”

“Why would I want to win anything other than a beautiful game?”

Patrick Rothfuss - The Wise Man’s Fear

Having said that, this game is STUNNING. The box art, the game board, and tiles are all beautifully designed and finished. I think this may be the prettiest game I’ve ever played, and it fits with the theme well.

Honestly I think the market is starved of good two player games. As the person I play games with most often is my fiancé and we live in the middle of nowhere, it’s nice to be able to play two player without it feeling tacked on at the end.

I Scored Tau Long: The Way of The Dragon 5/5 and that will come down to our 5 categories: Originality; Theme; Mechanic; Clarity; and Availability.

Originality 5/5

This game is truly original, I have seen japanese themed strategy game before, Onitama springs to mind, but nothing like this. This game is like nothing I’ve seen and it’s really satisfying to see.

Theme 5/5

This game’s theme is simplicity with depth, and everything from the box art to the game play fits around that theme. The artwork subtly evokes Feudal Japan without being overt, and the board brings to mind the image of Taoist monks playing while living their life of simplicity.

Mechanic 5/5

The mechanics of this game are incredibly well thought out to fit with the theme and it is so streamlined that you would be forgiven for thinking that this game had been played for centuries. Even the additions, once you have a handle on the base game, feel streamlined and easy to grasp.

Clarity 5/5

You can be taught the game in 10 minutes and have a handle on the gameplay after 5. The additions all make sense, this is my favorite type of game, easy to start, hard to master.

Availability 5/5

I bought this game in a shop, it’s available at every board game specialist website, it will not be hard to find.

Final Score 5/5

Our first top scorer! Honestly this game deserves it, it is simply gorgeous. It isn’t loud fun, I wouldn’t take it to game night every week, but it is a beautiful game, and perfect for a night in with you significant other or best friend, I cannot recommend this game enough, go buy it already so they make more games like this.