Azul is one of the most-recommended gateway games going, but its trickiest version has always asked a bit more of you. Good news if you fancy the challenge without buying in: Azul: Queen's Garden is now free to play on Board Game Arena.
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Start organising for freeThe original Azul, Michael Kiesling's tile-drafting hit, won the 2018 Spiel des Jahres and turned a table full of colourful tiles into a modern classic. Queen's Garden, released in 2021, is the heavier, chewier entry in the family. You are landscaping an ornate garden for a Portuguese queen, drafting tiles across four rounds and paying to place them: a simple single-tree tile covers its own cost, while the showier pieces demand you discard others to earn their spot. Swapping the familiar squares for hexagons opens up new patterns to chase and new ways to tie yourself in knots.
It is a step up from the breezy original, landing around a 3-out-of-5 on Board Game Arena's complexity scale, and a satisfying 35-minute puzzle for two to four players. Being able to try it in a browser, for nothing, is the ideal way to find out whether the meatier Azul is for you before committing shelf space.
Looking for board gamers near you? Browse local communities and find your next game night.
Find events near youThe game went live on the platform on 1 July. Round up a couple of friends, get a table going, and see if you can out-garden them.
Sources: Board Game Arena | Next Move Games
