Feel smart: A review of Zensu

Even the name Zensu is designed to invoke an Eastern mystique. The cherry blossom on the cover and board adds to the vibe of this two-player strategy game, creating a visually appealing experience that will surely captivate.

The truth is that I’m not smart enough to master Mahjong and doubt I could even master Tien Gow. In contrast, Zensu describes itself as “Easy to learn but hard to master”. I learned it in one sitting. I can tell I’ve learned the moves because I’m now apprehensive about just how fiendishly challenging it will be to master.

Playing Zensu

The objective is to get one of your tile pieces across the board and to your opponent’s edge. You have two types of tiles, and you don’t even have to learn what they do because their moves are printed on them.

You have some titles with a large number one on one edge and smaller numbers two, three and four on other edges. You have other titles with a large number two on one edge and smaller numbers one, three and four on the other edges.

You move one tile on your turn and move it in any direction (not diagonal) the amount of space the number on the edge says. So, if you have a three on the left edge and want to move to the left, you must move three spaces.

That’s essentially it. The rules have a mean psychological trick: if you touch a title, you must move it. It puts the pressure on.

One single complication makes the game a strategy game – you must make only legal moves. If the board’s edge is two spaces to my left and my title has a three on the left, then I can’t move that one. My opponent could sail one of their tiles down my left flank to win the game.

The Zensu aesthetics

I played Zensu with Bronwen in a board game cafe here in Edinburgh. Ancient Robot Games in Leith, a Geek Native-recommended venue. It was a great setting, and I loved sitting with some tea percolating on the table while we pushed titles that, at a glance, might have looked like they had Hanzi symbols on them around (actually, they’re numbers).

There was a skirmish game on a bigger table behind us. Two guys had a ruined city on full display in the cafe; it reached about a foot off the table, and their sci-fi soldiers were engaged in a Kill Team battle. We drew equal interest from shoppers in the busy store. Our Zensu was set up in less than two minutes, and needless to say, the Kill Team set-up was far longer.

Cheatwell Games has the size of the Zensu tiles just right. They feel robust and weighty in your hand without being clunky. They’re made from wood, and I could see the grain, which suggests to me that nothing cludgey like MDF had been used. The board is fairly thick, folds in two and lays flat.

In short, Zensu looks great if abstract and feels quality.

Zensu’s critical thinking

I’m not great at chess. I’m not good at thinking ahead, visualising how the board will look in a turn or two, and I know that’s a relatively short line to “Not very bright”, but it’s the truth. I get bored of the effort. I suck at putting myself in my opponent’s shoes. I don’t think I’ll be much better at it with Zensu, but because it feels easier, I suspect I’m more willing to try.

I believe that Zensu has the potential to significantly enhance my critical thinking skills, providing an intellectually stimulating experience.

To play Zensu well, each move requires careful consideration of the spatial relationships between tiles, potential consequences, and long-term goals. This constant analysis and evaluation of options helps to sharpen critical thinking skills by fostering a proactive and mindful approach to problem-solving. That’s handy because I’m sure a Zensu is easy enough for kids to learn.

Furthermore, games like this often present unexpected challenges and obstacles, forcing players to adapt and revise their strategies. With my weakness in thinking ahead, I’m usually caught out when the unexpected happens. This process of encountering setbacks, analysing the situation, and formulating new plans strengthens critical thinking by promoting flexibility, resourcefulness, and the ability to learn from mistakes. Ultimately, tile-moving games offer a stimulating mental workout that can enhance cognitive skills and improve decision-making in various contexts.

Any concerns at all?

I have one concern about Zensu: a fear the strategy might eventually boil down to tic-tac-toe. Play tic-tac-toe a few times, and you’ll soon discover that each game is doomed to be a tie because there’s a necessary response to each move your opponent makes. I honestly can’t tell that after twenty or thirty Zensu games, those ‘necessary’ moves will begin to show themselves to experienced players.

Overall

I can counter that one concern I have with Zensu by pointing out that it’s about £20, so if it takes dozens of games before the power moves begin to reveal themselves, that’s still great value for money.

I like Zensu loads. It will be a game I bring to meet a friend in a gaming cafe in the future. I felt smart playing it, and it may be a game that makes me better at critical thinking.

Disclaimer: My copy of Cheatwell Games’ Zensu was provided free for review.

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