O.OQUO - The Forgotten Game
O.OQUO
A name passed without words, but a sound carved into memory, wood, stone, and bones.
â—‹.
Two circles. A ritual. A rhythm. A game.
A game whispered through generations, carved into the earth by people who never stayed still. A game that traveled across deserts, mountain ranges, firelit camps, and star-strewn skies.
And now, fate has it, that it has arrived, in our time!
I got goosebumps when I first read about OQUO through Mario’s Kickstarter Campaign last month. His first encounter with OQUO wasn’t in a game store or online forum; it was by firelight, deep in the tundra, surrounded by silence and snow.
In 2017, he was traveling with a group of nomads who communicated only by gestures and glances. And one evening, one of the nomads placed a few flat stones on the ground. No instructions. No explanation. Just an invitation.
Mario watched, listened, and responded. And within moments, the game unfolded, clear as daylight. That was the moment he knew he had to share this game with the world. And now, after eight long years, the moment has come!
I was delighted when Mario reached out to me to try out OQUO. Beyond its rich history, what thrilled me most was that this would be my very first 3D print-and-play experience. All of the components of OQUO, which are not many, need to be 3D printed. So I got busy printing them out, with these thoughts lingering in my mind:
– With minimal components required, is it too simple to play?
– Is it enjoyable in 1v1 format? Or in groups?
– Is there any way to add an extra dimension to the game and enhance the experience?
A bit on OQUO
OQUO is a micro strategy game, ideally for a 1v1 format, that consists of 25 earthstones that make the player field, arranged in a neat 5 by 5 grid. Each player has exactly 4 game stones, and their objective is to form a square anywhere on the player field before the opponent does.Â
It sounds simple, but it’s said you must think like the nomads who passed it down through generations, and learn to anticipate every move.
The game is super portable and fits easily in the palm of your hand; perfect for traveling, just as the nomads did.
How I built it
It didn’t take long to assemble the game. I just watched the 3D printer bring it to life in no time! The 25 earthstones and 8 game stones (four per player) are all you need to play. That and a level playing surface.
If you need a 3D printer, I sourced a mini that is available at a special price. Check it out at the end of the article.
So, after a week of playing OQUO, here are my findings!
My findings
Your company determines the difficulty
The first time I played OQUO, I won in less than 2 minutes! As much as I was happy winning a round with my spouse, I asked myself- Is this it? Well, little did I know!
When I took the game to my friends, I got the gist of the depth the game has. And it comes from 3 aspects:
1. The type of square you want to form: you can create small, large, orthogonal, or diagonal squares of any size, at any position. So whenever you are moving your game stones, you need to factor it into the equation.
2. What your opponent is up to: the first point is also eligible for your opponent, so don’t get too hung up on your moves! Be ready to block the earthstones to prevent your opponent from winning!
3. How well you can anticipate things: a friend of mine, who regularly plays chess, was always two or three steps ahead of me in OQUO. I could tell because she told me. And, of course, I lost.
A candidate for game nights
Easy to set up, easy to learn, and gets better with each round of play; perfectly sums up to be an eligible contender for our game nights!
Other than 1v1, I also tried the 3v3 mode and had a spectacular time. It got chaotic at times, with three minds deciding on a single move each round, which only made it more perfect for game nights. We even started playing mind games, making false moves just to throw off our opponents and disguise our strategy. Try it out. Without making a mess of your strategy!
In comes the Timer!
I am a sucker for customization, and OQUO was no exception! While learning how to play the game, I developed this hypothesis that the game might get more fun by introducing the element of time. And so we did!
We had 5-minute speed runs for the maestros (I was one of them), and 2-minute bursts for the amateurs. And that was highly entertaining! With the time limit in play, we were forced to improvise, and that brought out some next-level strategies. And plenty of great laughs!
A game worth talking about
I love being the storyteller in my circle, and OQUO definitely helped the cause. As much as I enjoyed playing, I loved sharing the game’s rich history and how it found its way to our table thanks to an indie artist. Mario, my friends say thanks!
Looking back at the Micro May campaign so far, it’s been a wonderful ride, with each game bringing its own unique experience. It’s exactly why I celebrate the indie designers in our community so much.
Verdict: Simple?
The answer, rather, is simple- it depends on who you’re playing with. If you want the game to feel simple, play it with someone new to games or with the younger ones in your family. They will play it with instinct, not strategy. Or gather a group and enjoy the chaos. It is simple, unpredictable, and fun! Use a timer to further enhance the game experience.
But if you are craving depth, play it with someone who lives for strategy. That is when OQUO truly shows its layers. Keep the timer aside, though. Take it slow!
10 days to go!
You have just 10 days to be part of history by backing the game, so let me give you the final push:
It’s Pay What You Want!
The project felt deeply personal to Mario, and in keeping with the spirit of OQUO, he chose not to set a price. So, the choice is yours.
A big thanks to Mario Faiella for sharing the game with everyone!
Game Overview
Publisher: Mario Faiella
Designer: Mario Faiella and our ancestors!
Number of players: At least 2
Difficulty level: Easy
Rounds of gameplay needed to learn: 1 round
Game duration: 5 to 20 minutes
Available on: Kickstarter
Theme: Micro Abstract Strategy | Forming a square
Number of pages and color: 3D Print only!
Assembling difficulty level: None. As long as you can source 3D printing.
Lamination: Not required
Additional elements required: Just a flat playing surface, and a friend.
Time to learn: Less than 5 minutes
Travel-friendly: 9.5/10
Shelving friendly: 10/10
Rating from PnP Time: 8.5/10
Tasliman is a board game developer based in Bangladesh, with the dream of exploring the world of games and introducing it to anyone new to it. He is the founder of Kraftz, a brand that develops board games commercially, as well as with reputed entities like BRAC and The Gates Foundation.
