Quarto Classic Wooden Board Game

by Family Games

Product Features

• MENSA Award Winning Strategy Game
• Two Players
• Ages 8 and up

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 2.4 x 11.3 inches ; 4.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00001NTXP
• Item model number: QTO
• Manufacturer recommended age: 6 years and up
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #7,021 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)

  #70 in

  Toys & Games > Games > Board Games > Strategy Games

• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

Product Description

Editorial Review

Winner of a stack of international awards, Quarto! Classic requires eagle eyes and scheming minds. The first of two players selects one of 16 different wooden playing pieces, each with four physical traits (light or dark, round or square, tall or short, solid or hollow) and gives it to the opponent. That player places the piece on any circle on the lovely, 10-by-10-inch, dark wood board, and then chooses another piece to give to the first player, who places it anywhere on the board. The object is to establish--or be the first to notice--a line of four pieces with at least one common characteristic, and call "Quarto!" With variations for beginning or advanced players, and countless playable combinations, this fun and challenging game is indeed a classic. --Emilie Coulter

Product Description

Quarto!-one of the world's most award-winning games! Each of the 16 pieces has 4 different attributes. The aim is to line up 4 pieces that share the same attribute (round or square; light or dark; tall or short; solid or hollow). The problem is you can't choose which piece you're going to play - your opponent chooses for you. Contents: one board, 16 wooden pieces. For 2 players ages 6 and up.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quarto ranks at the top of great games, January 2, 2002

By	Caroline G. Hemenway (Virginia , United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Quarto Classic Wooden Board Game (Toy)

Quarto has given our family of 5 (kids ages 13, 11, 7) hours of great play time. It is challenging enough for a Mensa adult and easy enough for our 7-year old to play. Besides warranting all the awards it has received, it looks lovely enough to keep out as an "art" piece in the livingroom... thus luring erstwhile TV viewers. The company that makes this also makes other games that are just as fun and attractive. I considered giving it a 4 for educational value because it doesn't go much farther than develop conceptual thinking/outside-the-box skills (a feat in itself). Scrabble might be more "educational." But in its category, it's a definite 5.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple Satisfaction!, August 4, 2000

By	Douglas Swiggum (Fitchburg, WI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Quarto Classic Wooden Board Game (Toy)

Who would have thought that a game with such simple rules could be so fascinating to play? This game is satisfying for all levels of players -- from little tykes to brain-heavy mathematicians. When you find an opponent who is about as careful or alert as yourself, you will be surprised how addictive this game can be. "OK, just one more game..."

Not only is this game mentally stimulating and fun, but it is very attractive and well made. The size and finish of the wooden pieces make it something you will want to leave out for guests to notice. Perhaps they will ask you what it is, so that you can teach them the game!

This would make an excellent gift.

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I wrote this review in the year 2000, and at that time, I had only the experience of playing the game at a friend's house. Many years later, I purchased one for myself, and was disappointed with the reduction of quality. The original pieces were probably made with maple, and were tooled and finished with a high degree of craftsmanship. I think they also had felt bottoms, which is a nice way to ensure that you place the piece right-side-up. The set that I ordered had pieces made of some cheaper softer wood, and the finish was rough and uneven. A clever player can now cheat by placing a "hollow" piece upside-down to conceal the fact that there
were no solid pieces left to play. That is, no felt bottoms.

I still love the game, but am tempted to throw away the pieces and turn out some of my own in by basement workshop.

April, 2010

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT game for ALL ages, December 21, 2005

By	Learning All The Time "It's Never Too Late to... (USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Quarto Classic Wooden Board Game (Toy)

This game is very easy to learn. Each of the 16 playing pieces has 4 attributes, height (tall & short), color (white and brown), shape (circle & square), and hollow/solid.

The goal is to get 4 of the same attributes in a row (for example, you could have 1 tall white circle, 1 short white circle, 1 tall brown circle, and 1 short brown circle in a row, and that would be a winning set because they are all circles, even though they vary with respect to the other attributes).

The catch is that your opponent picks the piece you have to place on the game board.

This game is similar to SET, in that you are trying to make winning patterns across several attributes. It is different because you are also trying to block your opponent from making winning patterns.

I do wish this game were less expensive so that more people can enjoy it. Not everyone can drop $30 for a game. It is a beautifully made wooden game, but it would be just as much fun if it were made of something inexpensive and priced under $10.

Nevertheless it is a game worth owning. And, for trivia buffs, this game was futuristic enough to appear in an episode of Star Trek Voyager :)