Kingdomino
Choose Kingdomino when the slot is short, the ages are mixed, or you want a game you can play twice. The queen and the colours are easy to point at.
All comparisons
Board games
Kingdomino vs Azul
You can teach either before the snacks are gone. The sharpness is not equal.
Kingdomino, designed by Bruno Cathala and published in 2016, plays 2–4 in about 15–20 minutes. You draft a domino tile and add it to a kingdom. It won the 2017 Spiel des Jahres. Azul, from 2017, plays 2–4 in about 30–45 minutes and won the 2018 Spiel des Jahres. You draft coloured tiles and fill a personal wall, and leftover tiles can cost you.
Kingdomino is harder to ruin someone’s evening with. Azul lets you take the tiles they needed and also hand them a penalty. Families who like a little spite do well with Azul. Families who are still learning to lose do better with Kingdomino.
Azul
Choose Azul when everyone can handle a draft that hurts and you have closer to 45 minutes. It is the better game for people who already know Kingdomino and want more bite.
What actually differs
| Difference | Kingdomino | Azul |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 15–20 minutes | About 30–45 minutes |
| Players | 2–4 | 2–4 |
| Designer | Bruno Cathala, 2016 | Michael Kiesling, 2017 |
| Award | Spiel des Jahres 2017 | Spiel des Jahres 2018 |
| Mean draft | Mild | Real |
Questions about this choice
Kingdomino has a 7x7 two-player mode. Does that matter?
In the two-player game you can play with larger kingdoms. It is still Kingdomino. You do not need a different box.
Is Azul too mean for children?
Some children love the take-that. Some melt down. You know your table. The penalty tiles are not optional in the standard rules.