Kadon Enterprises, Inc., Games Magazine reviews of Kaliko

Games Magazine selects: Kaliko

A Kaliko pattern graced the June 2000 cover of Games magazine, as a puzzle challenge. The lead story in this issue was on connection games. Author (and Games' editor-in-chief) R. Wayne Schmittberger described the history and strategies of the most outstanding connection games of the 20th century, including, besides Kaliko, the games of Hex, Havannah, Octagons, Trellis, Trax, Twixt, Bridg-It and Kadon's Game of Y.

Kaliko was chosen by Games as one of the 100 best games for the year 1996. Here's their write-up from the December 1995 "Buyer's Guide to Games" in the abstract strategy games category:

KALIKO (1 to 4 players)
Among the many wonders in the Kadon catalog, one of our longtime favorites is this beautiful connection game. On each of the 85 laser-cut acrylic tiles are three path segments of one, two or three colors. The object is to place the tiles so that paths of the same color connect. Points are scored for extending "main" paths, for crossing your own path, and for other achievements. A variety of interesting games and puzzles are described in the 32-page manual.

Cover for Games' Buyer's Guide to Games 1995

Kaliko was included on Games Magazine's list of 16 "Golden Oldies" games in the premiere issue of the "Buyer's Guide to Games," with this caption:

KALIKO
The beautiful tile game of making paths that cross and loop.

Kaliko was chosen by Games as one of the 100 best games for the year 1994. Here's their write-up from the December 1993 "Buyer's Guide to Games" in the abstract strategy games category:

KALIKO (1 to 4 players)
The connection game par excellence. Each of its 85 unique hexagonal tiles displays three path segments, which can be of one, two, or three colors. The idea is to place tiles so as to connect paths of the same color, scoring points for connecting "main" paths and additional paths, for crossing your own path, etc. The tiles, which Kadon lovingly manufactures of screen-printed laser-cut acrylic, can also be used for many puzzles, all described in the full-color 32-page manual.

Kaliko was chosen by Games as one of the 100 best games for the year 1986. Here's their write-up from the November 1986 "Games 100" list, in the "Abstract Strategy" category:

KALIKO
Players: 1 to 4 Playing time: 1 hour

Each of the 85 unique hexagonal Lucite tiles — the beautiful equipment makes playing this game a pleasure — contains three path segments of one, two or three colors. Players take turns placing one or more tiles so that matching segments touch, trying to score points by extending paths, crossing paths over themselves, and forming closed loops. A booklet of puzzles for solitaire play is included. —May 83 [Date refers to first review.]

Kaliko was chosen by Games as one of the 100 best games for the year 1985. Here's their write-up from the November 1985 "Games 100" list, in the "Making Ends Meet" category:

KALIKO
Players: 1 to 4 Playing time: 1 hour

Silk-screened Lucite tiles make playing this game a visual treat as well as a mental challenge. Players add one or more tiles each turn to a growing network of paths of three colors, earning points for extending existing paths, crossing a path over itself, and closing paths into loops. A tile that fits into a blank spot in the network can be saved for a high-scoring endgame play, since each of the 85 tiles is unique. —May 83 [Date refers to first review.]

Kaliko was chosen by Games as one of the 100 best games for the year 1983. Here's their write-up from the November 1983 "Games 100" list, in the "Making Ends Meet" category:

KALIKO
Players: 2 to 4 Playing time: 45m

One of the most graphically appealing games ever produced, Kaliko is played with clear Lucite tiles, each having a unique pattern of red, white, and/or blue paths. Each turn, opponents play one or more tiles (from a hand of seven), linking previously unconnected paths of the same color. Points are earned according to the length and number of twists in the path, and are doubled if a path is bent into a closed loop. Comebacks from huge deficits are possible but require both skill and luck. —(May 83) [Date refers to first review.]

Kaliko was reviewed by Games originally in the May 1983 issue. Here's the write-up by editor R. Wayne Schmittberger:

KALIKO
This boardless path-connecting game is an improved version of Psyche-Paths, a little-known but highly original game of the 1960s. The rules have been streamlined, some solitaire puzzles have been added, and the silk-screened Lucite tiles give the game a striking appearance that does justice to the sophistication of the play.
Two to four players draw seven tiles apiece from a bag, and keep them hidden from the opponents behind bamboo screens. One more tile is drawn and placed on a flat surface of at least card-table size. Each tile—there are 85 of them, all different—depicts three path segments in varying configurations and color combinations. In turn, each player adds one or more tiles from his hand to those already on the table, matching like-colored path segments wherever tiles meet. The tiles played in a turn must connect two previously unconnected path segments. The longer a connected path is, the more points it's worth; as the game progresses and paths grow longer, plays tend to score more and more points. Bonuses are earned for making a path cross itself and for turning a path into a closed loop.
Finding a reasonably good move is seldom hard; finding the very best move is seldom easy. Luck is important, but so are a strong sense of spatial relations and the ability to plan strategically. The outcome is often in doubt until the very end, and it's highly satisfying to find a play that simultaneously connects two or more sets of paths, scoring enough points to come from far behind and win. — R.W.S.

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