Stats:
No. of players: 2-4
Amount of time to play: 40 min
Age requirements: 8+
Set-up time: 5 minutes

The Enigma of Leonardo Rules Description:

Your goal in The Enigma of Leonardo is to collect seven different keys. Your opponents will be trying for the same goal. Can you beat them to it?

You start The Enigma of Leonardo with ten cards and randomly select five to place in front of you a plus pattern. The cards have two icons of them. Each round you’ll replace one of the cards in the plus with one from your hand.

You are trying to create a line of three matching icons either horizontally or vertically across the plus. These icons are also on the keys and you take the key for the icons you match. You may also take any key if you have five symbols matching on the cards in your plus. You may only collect one of each key. But there are enough sets of keys for each player to get one.

The card you replace in your plus is put in the same position of the plus of the player to your left. You are trying to hinder their match-creating efforts, but sometimes you just might help them.

If you collect seven of the twelve different keys first, you win the game.

A Quick Review of The Enigma of Leonardo:

The Enigma of Leonardo is a filler with some very unique mechanics. There is a good bit of luck in this fairly light game, but the gameplay is easy to pick up and many ages will enjoy this game.

The way you replace a card in your opponent’s plus is different. But that said planning for anything can be tough. You are mostly hoping to draw the cards you need. If you don’t enjoy games with a good bit of luck than The Enigma of Leonardo is not for you.

However, if you are looking for a filler that is fun, unique and appeals to many ages than The Enigma of Leonardo should fit the bill.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 2 out of 6
Luck 5 out of 6
Player Interaction 5 out of 6
Replay Value 3 out of 6
Complexity 2 out of 6
Fun 4 out of 6
Overall 4 out of 6