Twixt
The Strategy Game of Barriers
3M Company - 1963
2 Players
Twixt is a three dimensional version of an old pen and paper game. The object of the game is to build an uninterrupted "bridge" from one end of the board to the other. The players do this by alternately placing "pegs" on the board. If a player has placed a peg in such a position that it can be connected to another peg, they can place a "link" connecting the pegs. The restriction is that links cannot cross each other, so a player can place pegs and links in such a manner that they block their opponents links. The first player to created an uninterrupted path from one side of the board to the other is the winner.
One tricky aspect to placing pegs and links is that the links will not connect if the pegs are placed in line with each other. The pegs must be placed on a one by two diagonal. Pegs can be placed in such a way that they can connect with up to eight other pegs.
Twixt best fits the category of abstract strategy game. I have seen this game played with pen and paper and all this version does is add the nifty three dimensional components. On the other hand the game does look very interesting visually.
The game requires thinking several turns ahead in order to succeed. If you narrow your focus too much you will almost certainly find yourself outflanked by your opponent.
While not wildly original Twixt is still an interesting member of the 3M library.
Originally, as part of my continuing analysis of box art, I said that I had no idea why the box art showed soldiers in combat gear advancing up a hill in the background. A reader has informed me that this is because the game can be thought of as trying to maintain a supply line while preventing that line from being cut by your opponent.