Quarto

About this board game

Quarto is a two-player abstract game played on a 4×4 board in about 20 minutes. Its 16 pieces differ across four dichotomous attributes: color, height, shape, and consistency.

Each piece is either black or white, tall or short, square or round, and hollow or solid. Together, these attributes create a set in which every piece has a distinct combination of characteristics.

The objective is to place the fourth piece in a row where all four pieces share at least one attribute. A completed row might therefore have a common color, height, shape, or consistency. The challenge comes from evaluating the available pieces and spotting possible shared traits across the board.

Quarto’s central twist changes the usual turn structure: instead of choosing the piece you will play, your opponent chooses it for you. You then decide where to place that piece on the 4×4 board, while the choice you make for your opponent may influence their next opportunity.

• Players: 2
• Playing time: approximately 20 minutes
• Components: a 4×4 board and 16 pieces
• Winning aim: complete a four-piece row with at least one shared attribute

With its compact board, clearly defined piece properties, and unusual opponent-controlled piece selection, Quarto focuses every move on recognition and placement. The game was released in 1991 and was a winner of the 1985 Concours International de Créateurs de Jeux de Société.