# Pyramido ## General Info - **Year Published**: 1991 - **BGG Rating**: 6.6 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 20 min - **Weight**: 1.67 / 5 - **Designers**: Reiner Knizia - **Publishers**: Pro Ligno Spielewerkstatt - **Categories**: Abstract Strategy - **Mechanics**: Grid Movement ## Verdict Perfect for those who love tactical puzzles and want a quick game with a unique look.Attractive thematic visualsEasy to learn rulesFast and dynamic matchesConstant tension of the climbLow depth for hardcore gamersLuck of the draw with blocksFOR GENRE FANS ## Description Imagine being summoned by Pharaoh Mido, who was completely dissatisfied with the simplicity of his father's tomb and now wants something truly majestic for himself. In Pyramido, you take on the role of a royal architect competing to build the most luxurious pyramid of all, encrusted with precious gems. The objective is straightforward, but the execution requires cunning: you must climb the pyramid's steps and be the first to place two of your pieces on the winning level. The game utilizes blocks that function almost like dominoes, where the choice of each piece and its placement completely alters the game's dynamics. The key here is that each stage of the pyramid creates vital connections; to maximize your points, you must match the gem icons on the blocks and place your markers in the corresponding colors to activate scoring areas. It's not just about placing pieces, but about how initial decisions reverberate and influence your score throughout the entire process. With a pyramid-shaped board that catches the eye on the table, the game blends the tension of a race with the depth of a strategic puzzle. You'll need to plan your moves carefully, as every filled space can either open a path for you or block an opponent's ascent. It's the kind of fast-paced game that leaves you wanting a rematch because you realize that if you had placed that gem elsewhere, you would have won. Ideal for those who enjoy strategy games that don't require reading a hundred-page manual but reward those who can see three moves ahead. ## How to Play Game Objective In the universe of Pyramido, the great Pharaoh Mino has passed away and his son, Pharaoh Mido, has inherited the throne. Dissatisfied with the simplicity of his father's pyramid, Mido wishes for his own resting place to reflect his grandeur. He has decreed that 2 to 4 architects must build jewel-encrusted pyramids, known as Pyramidos. The objective of the game is to be the architect who builds the most impressive Pyramido, using dominoes to group gem icons of the same type and obtain the highest number of prestige points in the construction of the 4 pyramid floors. The player with the most prestige points at the end of the game will be named Vizier and win. Preparation (Setup) Each player takes 6 gems (1 of each color) and 3 single block cards (1 of each color combination). Shuffle the dominoes. Separate 3 dominoes and divide the rest into 4 approximately equal face-up piles. Place the piles side by side. Take the 3 dominoes you separated and place them side by side, so that each of them is in front of 2 piles. These 3 dominoes form the quarry. Set the score pad aside, as it will only be used after the construction of each floor. Whoever last built a sandcastle is the starting player. Game Flow The game progresses with players building their own pyramid, which will have 4 floors. The construction of each floor is done domino by domino, scoring colored blocks whenever possible. After the construction of each floor, prestige points are awarded for each gem icon in each scored group. Starting with the starting player, players take their turns clockwise. On their turn, each player will perform 3 mandatory actions and 1 optional action. The actions must be performed in the following order: Choose and place a domino (mandatory) Score the domino (mandatory, if possible) Use a single block card (optional) Refill the quarry (mandatory) The 1st floor must be a 5 x 4 (or 4 x 5) area and requires exactly 10 dominoes. The subsequent floors (2nd, 3rd, and 4th) are built on top of the previous ones, following the dimensions and number of dominoes below: 2ND FLOOR: 4x3 / 6 dominoes 3RD FLOOR: 3x2 / 3 dominoes 4TH FLOOR: 2x1 / 1 domino Actions and How to Play 1. Choose and place a domino (Mandatory Action) Choose 1 of the 3 dominoes from the quarry and place it on your pyramid. Domino Placement Rules If it's your first domino, simply place it face up in front of you to start your pyramid. Dominoes can be rotated freely. If it's not your first domino, you must connect it to another domino. You can connect blocks that are not of the same color. The sides of the blocks must be completely connected. Half connections are not allowed. IMPORTANT: from the 2nd floor onwards, all dominoes are considered connected. Once placed, the domino cannot be moved. Make sure to always leave space for subsequent dominoes to be placed. You must build complete floors and place all your dominoes in the designated area (e.g., 4x5 for the 1st floor). At the end of floor construction, if a domino doesn't fit, you must play 2 of your single block cards into the empty spaces and cannot place a gem on them. Important: if you don't have enough single block cards to fill the empty spaces, you automatically lose the game. Corners in Centers (from 2nd floor onwards) When building a new floor, the corner of each domino must be in the center of the block beneath it. The center of each block is marked by the two lines that cross it. Each block is connected to the blocks that support it, meaning areas can span multiple floors. 2. Score the domino (Mandatory Action, if possible) Place 1 gem on the newly placed domino. If possible, you must place it. Take 1 of your unused gems, which matches the color and gem icon of one of the blocks of the newly placed domino, and place it on top of the corresponding block. Once placed, the gem cannot be moved until floor scoring occurs. If you do not have an unused gem that matches the color(s) of your newly placed domino, simply skip this action. 3. Use a single block card (Optional Action) You can play 1 of your single block cards and place it, with either side up, on an unscored block (without a gem) of the newly placed domino. If possible, you must score the single block card with a matching color and icon gem. This is the only way to place 2 gems on the same domino in the same turn. Once played, the single block card cannot be moved for the rest of the game. 4. Refill the quarry (Mandatory Action) Refill the empty space in the quarry with 1 of the 2 dominoes directly above it. Note: there must always be 4 domino piles. If a pile is emptied, take the bottom half of another pile to refill it with new dominoes. End of Game and Scoring End of Game After the 4th floor scoring, the game ends. Floor Scoring After the completion of each floor, players receive prestige points for gem icons in scored areas. Each group of connected blocks of the same color is an area. Any area containing a gem is a scored area. Score 1 prestige point for each gem icon in a scored area. No prestige points are obtained for gem icons in unscored areas. Mino's Bonus Score 1 prestige point for each gem icon in the scored area that has the smallest quantity of gem icons. If multiple areas are tied, simply choose one. Players record their scores on the score pad and then take back their gems from their pyramids to prepare for the next floor. The player with the lowest number of prestige points in that scoring starts the next floor. In case of a tie, the next tied player, in the current turn order, starts the next floor. The game continues clockwise. Scoring the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Floors The scoring remains the same. However, as areas can span multiple floors, gem icons from previous floors connected by the same color can be scored again. When there is only one scored area (as can happen on the 4th floor), that is automatically your smallest area and you get the Mino's bonus. Victory Condition Whoever has the most prestige points at the end of the game wins the game and the title of Vizier. In case of a tie, the player with the highest number of unused single block cards wins. If the tie persists, the tied player who scored the most prestige points during the scoring of a single floor wins. Tips for Winning When placing dominoes, make sure to always leave space for subsequent dominoes to be placed, as once placed, the domino cannot be moved. Be careful not to run out of single block cards to fill empty spaces at the end of a floor's construction, as this can lead to automatic game loss. Aim to group gem icons of the same type and score these areas with gems to maximize your prestige points, especially considering that areas can span multiple floors and be scored again. ## FAQ ### Is the game hard to learn? Not at all! The rules are very straightforward and you'll be playing in no time, ideal for those who don't want to spend hours reading manuals. ### How long does a match last? It's quite agile, usually lasting about 20 minutes, making it great for playing multiple rounds in a row. ### How many people can play? From 2 to 4 players. It works well in any configuration, but with 4, the fight for space becomes more intense. ### Is it suitable for children? Yes, as it's an abstract strategy game with tactile components, it's a great entry point for children to learn planning. ### Is the game language dependent? No. Since the mechanic is based on positioning and icons, there are no complex texts, making it universal.