A 3D Print-and-play game!

It’s been an eventful month for me and my team as we explore and review nearly ten games from this year’s Kickstarter Micro May campaign.

I’m sharing my experience with one in particular, as it stood out from the rest for several reasons.

Meet OQUO, the first 3D print-and-play game I got to try!

Other than being a game exclusively made of 3D printed components, what truly hit me is the story behind it.

OQUO is more than a minimal strategy game that fits in the palm of your hand. It's a legacy. 

It is a game passed down by nomads for generations, one that Mario Faiella (who brought the project to life) first encountered in 2017 while traveling.

He played it under the stars, guided only by gestures, silence, and the rhythm of the stones.

A bit on OQUO

It is a micro strategy game, ideally for a 1v1 format, that consists of 25 earthstones that make the player field, arranged in a neat 5 by 5 grid. Each player has exactly 4 game stones, and their objective is to form a square anywhere on the player field before the opponent does. 

It sounds simple, but it’s said you must think like the nomads who passed it down through generations, and learn to anticipate every move.

How I built it

Preparing the game was quite satisfying as I got to test my 3D mini-printer for the first time. I 3D printed the 25 earthstones and 8 game stones (4 per player) and that's it!

My findings

On my first go at the game, I won it in less than 2 minutes. And I thought to myself- is that it? 

Well, not quite.

You see, OQUO holds layers. And it really depends on who you're playing with.

Victory came easily in my first match, but the depth revealed itself with players who strategizes better . The freedom to form any kind of square (small, large, diagonal) adds variety, but it’s the mind games and anticipation that turn it into a contest. I had a tough time playing it with a friend who's a pro at chess. She kept me on my toes.

I experimented with OQUO through a 3v3 format, added speed rounds, even introduced timers for an extra dose of tension. And it all worked!

I loved the storytelling it sparked, and how Mario’s journey became part of our own.

At the end of the day, OQUO was always more than just the mere game mechanics; it was being part of something ancient, revived by an indie creator who poured his heart into it.

The project felt deeply personal to Mario, and in keeping with the spirit of OQUO, he chose not to set a price. So, the choice is yours, folks!

Less than 10 days left of his campaign at Kickstarter, and it's available at a Pay-What-You-Want pledge. You know what to do!

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