3D spatial puzzle, checkers and dynamic strategy all define this innovative, Mensa award-winning game. Gridopolis combines a modular building component system using seven basic parts, multiple setup patterns and simple rules that unite basic checkers with a moving, changing strategic game space. Players each receive ten game parts that they can use to change the physical design of the game environment to their advantage. There are pads and posts to add spaces to the structure. There are also blocker pieces to restrict movement between areas.
Each player uses “pawn” pieces in different colors and starts on the same structural level. Players can choose an objective of jumping over and capturing opponents to be the last player standing or to play a timed game vying for the most points to win before time runs out. Legal moves are horizontal, vertical and diagonal across multiple levels. Jumping over another player’s marker allows participants to capture their pawns just as they would in a game of checkers.
Jumping in 3-D is a unique game mechanic that can come as a surprise to players’ opponents. Using a special pad called a teleporter to land on any other teleporter pad can put a player on another level and in a better position to capture another player’s pawn. No matter how you choose to play, thinking and strategizing in 3-D is a new challenge that creates many possibilities and puts an interesting spin on traditional checkers. For 1-4 players with a 15 to 60-minute playtime.