Shifting Stones is all about making the board work for you. Nine chunky, double sided tiles start in a simple three by three grid. On your turn, you will shift and flip these mystical stones to line them up with the colorful patterns shown on your cards.

Here is the twist: the very cards you need to score are also the ones you must spend to move the tiles. Every swap or flip costs a card, so you are constantly deciding whether it is worth burning a future score to set up something bigger now. Chaining together multiple patterns in a single turn feels especially satisfying and can swing the game in your favor.

With rules that teach in a few minutes, a 20 minute playtime, and support for 2 to 5 players, Shifting Stones fits nicely into family game night or a quick, thinky puzzle session. It even picked up a Mensa Select seal, so you know there is plenty of brainy goodness packed into that small box.

Recommended for ages 8 and up.