Touché (1979) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Touché is a classic board game that was released in 1979 by designer Wayne Bobette and published by Alary Games. It is a territory-building card game that challenges players to strategically match patterns on a square grid board. With a runtime of 30 minutes and suitable for players aged 8 and up, Touché has been a beloved game for decades.

Game Components of Touché

Game Board: Features a grid with magnetic strips that can be placed in rows or columns.

Pieces: Red square pieces and white circular pieces, each with magnets and colored dots.

Magnetic Strips: Double-sided and used to flip the pieces.

Instructions: Provided in English and French.

How To Setup Touché

To set up Touché, place the magnetic strips on the board in the desired configuration. Each player chooses their pieces (red squares or white circles) and places them in their base row. The pieces can be reset by touching the color, which flips the magnet under the board.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Get four pieces of your color in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Piece Movement: Players can move their own pieces and their opponent’s pieces, but not the last piece moved.

Jumping Pieces: Similar to checkers, players can jump over other pieces to an empty space.

Magnetic Flip: Pieces can flip colors when moved due to the magnetic mechanism.

Restrictions: No moving the last piece that was previously moved.

Player Experience

Touché offers a dynamic and unpredictable gameplay experience due to the magnetic pieces that can flip colors. This adds a layer of strategy and surprise, as players need to adapt to changing piece colors. The game is easy to learn but challenging to master, making it appealing to fans of abstract games.

Pros

Interactive and Dynamic: The magnetic pieces add an exciting element of unpredictability.

Strategic Depth: Players need to think ahead and adapt to changing piece colors.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for both children and adults.

Affordable: Originally priced low and can often be found inexpensively at thrift stores.

Cons

Piece Durability: Pieces are prone to being crushed, caved in, or cracked over time.

Instructional Confusion: The instructions contain inconsistencies regarding the winning conditions.

Personal Thoughts on Touché

Touché is a classic game ideal for those who enjoy abstract strategy and a bit of unpredictability. It’s perfect for families or casual gamers looking for a game that combines simple rules with deep strategic possibilities. While it may not be as well-known as some other board games, its unique mechanics make it a hidden gem worth discovering. If you’re a fan of games like Othello or Connect 4, Touché is definitely worth a try.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.