Ido is a two-player abstract strategy game where players move colorful blocks across a modular board. The board itself can be rotated and reconfigured during play, changing the geometric pattern and shifting pieces closer to or farther from their goal. The first player to move all of their blocks from one side of the board to the other wins. The game is notable for being both an aesthetically pleasing design object and a strategic challenge.
Components
1 Modular game board (sections that can rotate)
Colored blocks for each player
Board rotation mechanism
Setup
Place the modular board sections together in the starting configuration.
Each player takes their colored blocks.
Place all blocks on your starting side of the board.
Determine who goes first.
Turn Structure
On your turn, perform one of the following actions:
Move a block — Move one of your blocks toward the opposite side of the board according to movement rules.
Rotate the board — Rotate a section of the modular board, changing the geometric pattern and potentially repositioning pieces.
Actions
Moving a Block
Move one of your blocks from its current position toward the opposite side of the board.
Movement follows the geometric paths created by the current board configuration.
Blocks cannot occupy the same space as another block.
Rotating the Board
Instead of moving a block, you may rotate a section of the board.
Rotating changes the available paths and can move pieces (both yours and your opponent’s) to new positions.
This is the key strategic element — board manipulation can create shortcuts for your pieces or block your opponent.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The first player to move all of their blocks from their starting side to the opposite side of the board wins.
There is no scoring — it is a pure race/strategy game.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
Board rotation strategy: Rotating the board affects both players’ pieces, so each rotation must be carefully considered.
No stacking: Two blocks cannot occupy the same space.
Forced movement: When the board rotates, pieces on the rotated section move with it.
Path changes: After rotation, available movement paths change, potentially opening or closing routes.