Azul: Summer Pavilion

Next Move Games, Belleville (Бельвіль), Broadway Toys LTD · Board game · 2019
2–4 · best 3 30–45 min Weight 2.1/5
8.6 rating Ludopedia
7.6 rating BGG
8.6 rating Ludopedia
7.6 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you enjoy a strategic puzzle with stunning visuals, Azul: Summer Pavilion is a sure bet! It's the evolution of the Azul series that maintains the core essence, but with a super interesting twist.

Highlights
  • Engaging abstract strategy
  • Beautiful components
  • Clever drafting mechanic
  • High replayability
  • Easy to learn rules
Keep in mind
  • Indirect interaction
  • May frustrate planners
  • Similar to original Azul
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our interactive rules guide and exclusive illustrated infographic.
Access Rules Guide
About the game
Embark on a journey back to Portugal with Azul: Summer Pavilion, where you take on the role of a master artisan tasked with a royal assignment that was never completed. King Manuel I, after the palaces of Evora and Sintra, dreamed of building a stunning summer pavilion to honor royalty, but unfortunately passed away before construction could begin. Now, it's your turn to honor the king's memory, using the finest materials to create this architectural masterpiece, all while wisely managing your supplies to avoid waste. Get ready for six intense rounds, where each turn you'll select colorful tiles and strategically place them on your individual player board. The dynamic is super cool: each round, a different tile color becomes wild, adding an extra layer of strategy. You'll refill factories with four tiles each and also the central supply. On your turn, you can take all tiles of a non-wild color from a factory (and one wild, if present) or from the center of the table. After all tiles have been claimed, it's time to place them on your board. Your board features seven stars, each awaiting six tiles. Six of these stars are for a single color, and one special star requires one tile of each color. To place a tile, say, on the blue '5' space, you discard five blue or wild tiles (one blue being mandatory) and place one blue tile there. You score points for this tile and for those already connected to it within the star. Completing specific areas like pillars, statues, or windows on your board gives you immediate bonuses, allowing you to take more tiles from the supply. At the end of the round, you can carry over up to four tiles to the next, but beware: discarding more than that costs points! After six rounds, extra bonuses are awarded for completed stars and for covering all spaces with values 1, 2, 3 or 4. Whoever has the most points at the end is the grand master artisan!
Rules videos

In English

Rules manual
Rules manual — Azul: Summer Pavilion English · PDF
Download PDF
BEST PLAYER COUNT
2 BEST
3 BEST
4 REC
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Game details

Families

Country: Portugal Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena Game: Azul Theme: Art Versions & Editions: Travel Versions of Non-Travel Games
Publisher Next Move Games, Belleville (Бельвіль), Broadway Toys LTD, Divercentro, Galápagos Jogos, Gémklub
Designer Michael Kiesling
Artist Chris Quilliams
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play Azul: Summer Pavilion?
The game is ideal for 2 to 4 players, offering an equally fun and strategic experience in any of these configurations.
What is the average playtime?
A game typically takes between 30 to 45 minutes, making it perfect for a quick game session or to fit between other activities.
What is the complexity of Azul: Summer Pavilion?
It is considered a light to medium complexity game (BGG weight of 2.0762/5), easy to learn, but with enough strategic depth to keep it engaging.
What are the main differences compared to the original Azul?
The main difference lies in how tiles are scored and the introduction of the wild color mechanic each round, plus bonuses for surrounding specific elements on the board. It expands on the original idea with new layers of strategy.
Are the components good quality?
Yes, as is characteristic of the Azul series, the components are of excellent quality, with sturdy tiles and stunning visuals that enhance the gaming experience.
Is Azul: Summer Pavilion a family-friendly game?
Absolutely! Its accessible rules and visually appealing theme make it a great option for playing with family and friends, including younger or new players.
Do I need to have played the original Azul to understand this one?
No, not at all! Although it's from the same family, Azul: Summer Pavilion is a standalone game and can be played and enjoyed without any prior knowledge of other titles in the series.