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Description
DONUTS, which was first playable as INSERT, is an abstract strategy game for two players in which you attempt align five rings of your color to win.
To set up, arrange the four 3x3 tiles at random into a 6x6 grid. Each square of the grid has a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line on it. The first player places one of their rings on any unoccupied space, and the line in that space indicates the direction in which the opponent must place their ring: vertically, horizontally, or diagonally in line with the ring just placed. If the opponent can't place a ring in this direction because each square in this line is occupied, then the opponent can place a ring in any unoccupied square.
If you manage to insert a ring between two rings owned by the opponent — whether by placing your X piece in a space like this O_O or in a space like this OXX_O — then you change those opposing rings to your color.
If the board is full and no one has managed to create a row of five rings in their color, then the player with the largest orthogonally connected group of rings wins.
Year Published
2023
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 5
This page: 5
Sentiment:
pos 4 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–5 of 5
Video Pas-TtJBf9o
Board Games Hitting My Table general_discussion at 5:49 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13729 · mention_pk 40091
Click to watch at 5:49
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Efficient playtime; good for filling gaps
- Light and satisfying abstract
Cons
- Can be a bit puzzle-y and puzzle-heavy for some
Thematic elements
- color/territory capture via donut patterns
- abstract donut-grid strategy
- playful, quick abstract
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- five-in-a-row hybrid — donut-shaped grid influences movement; you convert opponents' donuts by sandwiching them
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this one is a lovely game by Stephan Dora, a great design in his own right.
- you are trying to collect exactly three of these animal tokens of each type to get the maximum amount of points
- a real brain burner but so simple and elegant to play as well
- Lost Cities a joy to get that one back to the table
- it's far too long I think it took us nearly two hours to play this which is obscene for the weight of the game
- Katarena one of the best abstract strategy games out there
- this is a bit of a whitewash of a game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video FtgSqYHMpzM
Before You Play playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13544 · mention_pk 39603
Click to watch at 0:00
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Rules are quick to learn and accessible
- Clever flip/insertion mechanic adds depth and counterplay
- Two-player abstract with meaningful decisions and tension
- Cute donut components and bakery theme despite abstract mechanics
Cons
- Limited to two players, reducing audience for multiplayer groups
- Theme is charming but lightweight and may not appeal to those seeking narrative
- Some players may experience brain-burn with the flip/insertion chain reactions
Thematic elements
- Flavorful donuts as tokens; theme is lightweight and charming
- Bakery-themed board with donut pieces; abstract strategy on a shared board
- Minimalist, puzzle-like presentation
Comparison games
- AEL (Othello-inspired mechanics)
- Kouami
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bookend and disobey — If all spaces in a chosen direction are occupied, you may disobey by placing anywhere unoccupied; this provides an override mechanic to continue play.
- insertion and flipping — If you insert a donut between two opponent pieces along a line, the ends can flip to your color when the line is bookended by your pieces.
- line-building — The objective is to create five in a row orthogonally or diagonally with your own color.
- placement — On each turn, a player places a single donut onto the shared board in an allowed space.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a quick game
- I really really really like this game
- Donuts has nothing to do with the gameplay has everything to do with the game it's so cute
- this is an abstract strategy game
- this one you're trying to be very strategic about where you place your pieces
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Z1Z-7G5mnAs
Josías top_10_list at 14:05 sentiment: negative
video_pk 6391 · mention_pk 18933
Click to watch at 14:05
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
- Abstract game
- Not amazing
- Not very good
Thematic elements
- Abstract game
- Abstract strategy
Comparison games
- Flip Freers
- River Glass Works
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I rank like games pretty much like how I feel right now about them right it's possible that next month I will rank the games way differently
- Stonespine Architects definitely an a rank game for me um really amazing
- I just absolutely love this one of my most favorite puzzly polyomino games
- Château Burgundy is still in my top three games has been for a few years
- I do not like auction games but I absolutely love Modern Art this is amazing
- My City is like an amazing entry level deck builder but you can also play with people who like to play games a lot
- Slay the Spire could be one of my games of the year wow this game is amazing
- Fallout is really messed up by its winning condition
- Pop-Up Pirate it's funny but is it a good game no it's not really a game right
- I like vegetable themed games it sounds very specific but that's the way it is
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video i7UVXtHkVxY
Board Games Hitting My Table general_discussion at 4:24 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2802 · mention_pk 8170
Click to watch at 4:24
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- compact playtime (10-15 minutes)
- accessible yet offers meaningful choices
Cons
- neutral look may not appeal to everyone
Thematic elements
- delicious abstract strategy
- donut depots and donuts on a board influencing where opponents can go
- light, playful
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area control interaction — placement shapes dictate opponent options on subsequent turns
- tactical positioning — donuts’ placement affects future moves and potential wins
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's really tight this Bard is and the opportunity cost of doing one thing
- there are so many different ways you can score in this game
- it's punchy
- the game end really does rush up on you
- polished, refined, gorgeous to look at
- you can just take the pieces off the board and go again
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IszlYvzL5TI
Board Games Hitting My Table game_review at 3:28 sentiment: positive
video_pk 111 · mention_pk 267
Click to watch at 3:28
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- elegantly fast with very quick rounds
- tight abstract strategy with satisfying play
Cons
- abstract nature may not appeal to everyone
- replay variety depends on arrangement of donuts
Thematic elements
- donut-shaped flipping and flipping strategies
- abstract, snack-themed arena
- fast, abstract, highly thematic yet simple
Comparison games
- none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- flip / flip-end mechanics — start from the middle and flip donuts from ends, changing control
- rapid play time — short turns enable quick play sessions
- set/line-up capture in abstract form — act to align or disrupt donuts to gain points
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's such a wonderfully implemented tug-of-war game, and I love the way you do not have to focus 100% on the tug-of-war
- the replayability and just the elegance of this brilliant dice-driven Euro
- this is Mandala, the original one here
- it's so quick and it's just a delight to play
- Captain Flip, evergreen family style game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–5 of 5