Klask is a board game in which two players compete using large magnets under the playing board to control their playing piece and steer the ball into the goal in their opponent's side of the board. The game has been described as a combination of air hockey and foosball.[1]

History

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Klask was created by Danish carpenter Mikkel Bertelsen in 2014.[2] The name Klask means "slap" in Danish and allegedly comes from the onomatopoeic sound made one of the playing pieces falling into its own goal.[3]

Gameplay

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The two players sit at opposite ends of the playing board and use large magnets underneath it to control their playing piece (striker) and steer the ball into the hole (goal) in their opponent's side of the board. If they do so and the ball stays in the goal, they score a point. A player also gains a point if two or more of the three white magnets in the centre of the board stick to their opponent's playing piece, if their opponent's playing piece falls into their goal, or if their opponent loses control of their playing piece and they are unable to bring it back under control using their magnet under the board. The game is played over a number of rounds, with the first player to score six points winning the game.[4][5][6][7][8]

Reception

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Klask received positive reviews upon its release. Dicebreaker considered it to be similar to air hockey and tabletop football, and praised its simplicity and engagement. The review also compared it to a four player version reimplementation, but recommended the original one.[4] Emily Heller from Polygon also stated that it was "simple and dynamic", complimenting the engagement.[3] Matt Thrower from IGN also recommended the game, and commented on its intensity.[6] Dominique Pariso and Rob Sparks, writing from The Strategist, also considered the game to be "a simple addition to a tried and tested game which adds a whole depth of strategy".[8] The game was also recommended by the Spiel Des Jahres jury.[9] A Wirecutter review, however, was more critical, praising its engagement but criticising its size, price, and replayability.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Klask". Big Potato Games. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  2. ^ "KLASK". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  3. ^ a b Heller, Emily (2020-06-05). "Klask is better than air hockey (and it fits on your kitchen table)". Polygon. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  4. ^ a b "10 best two-player board games". Dicebreaker. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  5. ^ a b "The Best Two-Player Board Games". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  6. ^ a b Thrower, Matt (2019-12-11). "The Best Short Board Games with Fast Play Times". IGN. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  7. ^ Girdler-Maslen, Matt Thrower last updated Contributions from Bethan (2020-07-27). "Best two-player board games 2022, with head-to-head and cooperative games". T3. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  8. ^ a b Pariso, Dominique (2021-09-16). "The Best Two-Player Board Games, According to Experts". The Strategist. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  9. ^ "Klask". Spiel des Jahres. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
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