Reacto is a project that started off as a game jam. We were randomly assigned into a group of six people, and tasked with making a board game where the theme was "Chain Reaction". We had four days to work on it, and the result was a very compelling game that is easy to learn and difficult to master, similar to games like Chess or Go. I took on a leadership role in the group and was one of the main people dedicated to making the rules and design. I also made a mobile app version of the game as a solo project, so check that out if you want to see the programming side!
The goal of the game is to create a chain of hexes from your side of the board to the opponent's side. The players take turns placing pieces on the board starting on their home hex until one player has created an unbroken chain from their home hex to a purple hex on the opponents side. In this picture, (from the app), the red player is going first, and the green outlined hex indicates a valid placement for their turn. The purple hexes on the opposite side are the goal.
The player's get two actions per turn. They can either flip over an opponent's piece, or place a new hex in an empty hole. Both actions can only be done on a hex adjacent to that player's chain, marked here in green for blue's turn.
If at any point a hex is no longer connected to that player's starting hex...
... they flip to the other player's colour and become part of their chain! In this example, red may still have a chance because they lost 9 tiles, they now get to place 4 total hexes on their turn! This comeback mechanic adds a layer of strategy to the game, where you may want to lose hexes on purpose, to put yourself in a better position for the next turn.