This is the Azul vs Sagrada game comparison showdown. These two games are very often compared to one another and it makes sense you would want to see them up against one another. They are both about drafting objects into your own personal grid to make something beautiful. We dive deep into both. Learn a little about the games then check out our Azul vs Sagrada notes and final verdict.
ABOUT THE GAMES
About Azul (2017): The game that tops the list of the best abstract strategy board games is about helping the king decorate with Portuguese tiles. Azul is a well crafted set collection and pattern building game. You draft sets of tiles against other players in order to create strategic clusters that are going to get you big points.
FOR MORE: Azul Page | Buy Azul on Amazon
About Sagrada (2017): You need to build a stained glass window by building up a grid of dice on your player board. Each board has some restrictions on which color or shade (value) of die can be placed there. Dice of the same shade or color may never be placed next to each other. Dice are drafted in player order, with the start player rotating each round, snaking back around after the last player drafts two dice.
FOR MORE: Sagrada Page | Buy Sagrada on Amazon
AZUL VS SAGRADA ANALYSIS
Theme: Both are equal in regards to theme richness. Azul has you in Portugal building up the palace with beautiful tiles and Sagrada has you around the same time, in an equally exotic place making beautiful stained glass composites from smaller pieces. In Azul vs Sagrada theme, there is no clear winner.
Gameplay: Both games have you drafting pieces to bring them into your own personal grid but what you take is slightly different. In Azul, there are a handful of tile types and you take groupings depending on how they land. In Sagrada, you take numbered dice of different colors that all correlate and bring in a Sudoku vibe. The games have similar flows, similar curves and similar intensity levels.
Mechanics: Both games are driven by drafting, space management, pattern building and set collection. Where the difference lies in how you need to make pieces fit together. Both come down to a puzzle aspect about making pieces work with one another even though you may have limited space for them.
Time Commitment: Azul vs Sagrada timing is pretty dead even. Both take place over a series of rounds that are going to tap out at around 45 minutes. The games run pretty smoothly but there are abrupt scoring breaks that can get complicated, especially in Azul.
Player Count: Both have the exact same 2 – 4 player type of games, but Sagrada has a leg up in that it has a satisfying solo version as well.
Cost: Azul has shot up in fame because it won the Spiel des Jahres award, so it commands a bit of a higher price, but both games are going to be around the $35 mark. It is well worth it given all the beautiful components you receive.
VERDICT
Verdict For the Shelf: Azul (55% of the time) and Sagrada (45% of the time). Both of these games are great and go for the same type of abstract strategy puzzle game, but the edge goes to Azul. The puzzle and drafting mechanic is just a bit more interesting and if you could only pick one, you should check out Azul. Both, however, are worth your time.
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