Quarto
In this Death Match, place pieces your opponent gives you on a 4x4 grid to make a full row, column, or diagonal share one common trait. (Original design by Blaise Muller)
| Designer(s): Non-original Game | Match Type: DM (for 2 players) |
| Featured in: The Genius: Code Breakers, The Genius: First Encounter | |
The second Final Match is…
Quarto.
In Quarto, players will be placing down unique pieces in an attempt to create four pieces in a row with a common trait.
This game will be played on a 4x4 board with sixteen unique pieces.
Each piece has four distinct traits: a shape, a color, a pattern, and a center. A piece’s color is either red or blue. Its shape is either square or circle. Its pattern is either striped or checkered. And its center is either hollow or solid.
The goal will be to make a straight line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) of four pieces, with each piece sharing one of the four traits in common.
As the game begins, players will take turns placing down one piece on the board. There is a catch, however: each player’s piece will be determined by their opponent. This means that each player’s turn will consist of two parts; first, they will place down their piece on an empty space on the board.
Second, they will then determine the piece their opponent will use. Players will have one minute to accomplish each of these. The starting player will choose whether to play first, or choose their opponent’s piece and have them play first. In the following rounds, the order will switch.
In the events that a player properly creates a quarto, they must declare to the dealer that a quarto has been made. If a player misses a quarto, and decides which piece their opponent must use on their turn, their opponent can instead declare the quarto. If both players miss the quarto, play will continue.
When a player successfully calls a quarto, the round will end in their win. If all sixteen pieces are placed without a quarto being formed, the round will end in a tie. When one player manages to win three rounds, they will be deemed the winner of the Final Match.
In addition, there are three items able to be used in Quarto. The first is Time Crush. A player may use this power at the start of any round to slash their opponent’s time significantly. Instead of 90 seconds to make a move, they will only have 30.
The second is Forced Mulligan. After a player has placed their piece, but before they pick the next piece to be used, a player may use this power to force them to place their piece in a different spot. This power may not be used on a game-winning move.
The third is Pick Again. When a player has picked the next piece to be used, a player may use this power to force their opponent to choose a new piece for them to use.
Tags
Connect in a row (The game involves players connecting pieces in a row, like gomoku.)
Grid-based (The game involves play on a grid.)
Hap-like (The game takes elements from the Gyul! Hap! game from The Genius TV show, also known as Set.)
Observation (The game tests the players' observational skills.)
Piece placement (The game involves pieces being placed on a board.)
Points-based (The game involves players earning points.)
Strategy (The game tests the players' strategic & tactical abilities.)
Turn-based (The game involves players taking turns one after another.)