Azul: Crystal Mosaic

My husband and I live this game, so now we can play with more people.

I bought this expansion along with Azul Chocolatier as a gift. The plastic overlay trays are thin but not flimsy, and they fit well over the edges of the boards so that the tray itself doesn’t shift at all while playing. It’s a small addition, but it helps to keep all of the pieces neat and safe from accidental bumps. This was the main selling point for me, but it does also come with new boards that offer new play variations. This expansion does work with both the original Azul and Chocolatier. However, the new boards have some tile designs printed on the tile board, using the original Azul tile art. If you’re using this with Chocolatier (which has different tile colors and designs), you’ll have to establish which original tile is going to be replaced with which Chocolatier tile. Some of them have clear equivalents (the cream chocolate tile can replace the white and teal, blue can replace blue, etc.). I’ve also included an image with the new board variation featuring the original tile art, along with Chocolatier tiles to further illustrate in case that’s a potential concern! My recipient wasn’t bothered by the mismatch, but it could be an issue for other Azul Chocolatier owners.

I got this expansion because it was not that expensive and I already owned Azul. I LOVE the plastic overlays which prevent tile slides when bumping and keep the score cube in place. I will spend more time straightening out the tiles than planning moves. No more "accidental" score bumps. Keep it fair. Haha The additional two-sided boards were a good thing to have for those experienced with the original two-sided boards. The new boards add a level of complexity that takes more strategy than expected and keeps the game fresh. I now can play with both beginner and experienced players. Have I said I LOVE the plastic overlays that fit really well on all of the boards and keep everything in place.

I bought this expansion specifically for the plastic overlay. I was glad to see the overlay doesn't attach itself to the boards. It just lays securely over the top. This means you can remove the overlay after the game without damaging the game boards or switch them to the new boards that also come in this expansion. The overlay mostly works pretty well. It holds the Azul tiles in place even when tilting the boards. The score counter is a bitter sweet thing. It prevents the score from being moved...almost. Every two points is a section. So the scoring cube is able to slide back and forth between a two point section. This is a little frustrating since this is the main reason I wanted the overlay. They didn't completely solve the problem but it is way better then it was before. I could care less for the new boards, they are interesting but I enjoy the original gameplay as it is and will probably just put these boards to the side most of the time.

This was a wonderful addition to the original Azul game! It adds a whole new play dimension and it is really a pretty addition!

I was expecting the plastic overlays to be more sturdy but they are still a nice addition to this game favorite. The new boards offer more play options and challenges. Well worth the price!

Azul quickly jumped to the top of the list of our favorite games. It is easy to learn but strategies soon develop to become a real challenge and extremely competitive. We can't recommend this game enough for game night!

Perfect addition to Azul. The frames allow us to play without the markers sliding to another row, leaving us unsure of who is ahead or who won.