Gygès

Gygès is a classic abstract strategy game for two players, inspired by the legend of King Gyges' ring of invisibility. Here, the clever twist is that no one 'owns' the pieces; both players control a set of neutral rings of three different heights, each with a distinct movement power. The goal isn't to capture, but rather to maneuver these rings to occupy your opponent's throne, located at the end of the board. To start, each player arranges six rings (two of height 1, two of height 2, and two of height 3) on their starting line. On your turn, you must move one of the rings closest to you, advancing line by line as the front pieces clear. A ring moves exactly the number of spaces corresponding to its height, following the board's connectors in any direction, but without passing through occupied spaces or using the same connector twice in the same turn. If you land on an empty space, your turn ends. But if you land on another ring, the magic happens: you can 'jump' again using the height of the ring you landed on, creating movement combos, or you can 'bump' that ring to a new empty space and take its place. Since all rings are neutral, a piece you advanced deep into enemy territory can become a powerful tool for your opponent on their next turn. The game ends the moment a player completes their move on the opponent's throne space. Gygès demands careful planning, calculated risks, and clever use of chain movements to create decisive breakthroughs. It's no wonder it was the winner of the 1985 Concours International de Créateurs de Jeux de Société!