In the expansion review series, we take a look at a game expansion to discuss whether it is a necessary purchase/addition to one’s collection.
This breakdown is for the expansion for the hit game, and Golden Feather Award-winning, Azul entitled Azul: Crystal Mosaic.
This expansion adds four new double-sided player boards that can be used in place of the original boards that shipped with the base game. Players will be able to choose which boards they wish to use, and which side prior to play. The greatest components in this expansion, though, are the clear plastic overlays. These sit on top of whichever board is being used and features raised edges around the individual pieces during play so a simple bump of the table no longer annihilates a player’s progress on their board.
Does this expansion add a lot to the gameplay of original Azul? I very much think so. I believe Azul can be played methodically and by switching up the player boards creates new strategies to be explored. So the new boards certainly extend the life of Azul. Again, the overlays are where it’s at here for me. These are absolutely the highlight of the expansion material and something that should be considered for all games that can be ruined by clumsy playmates… or their children/pets/visiting drunken relatives.
Is it absolutely necessary to invest in Crystal Mosaic to enjoy Azul? No way. Azul did not earn its prestigious Golden Feather Award for being anything but amazing on its own. Adding the Crystal Mosaic expansion material really does just that – expands the play and increases replayability. But those overlays though.
Official recommendation: Azul is already a winner for each of us at Purple Phoenix Games. Adding in the Crystal Mosaic expansion only increases the enjoyment of the game and I believe it is necessary on some front. For purely the plastic overlays this expansion is a must-have. The new player boards are also nice, but I like feeling secure in my tile placement and score cube placement by using these overlays, and I will NOT play Azul now without them.
