Jenga vs. Blockade: Which to Get?

Both Jenga and Blockade are considered to be some of the best games out there. They are fun for the whole family, which is a big reason why they are so popular. That being said, they are two very different games, about as different as could be.

Let’s take a closer look at both Jenga and Blockade to figure out which of these two games is right for you.

Jenga and Blockade: The Basics

Before we get into talking about the various similarities and differences between the two games, let’s first figure out exactly what both of them are.

What is Jenga?

Jenga is a tower-building game. Jenga comes complete with 54 wooden blocks that are stacked on top of each other in perpendicular layers of three. In other words, three blocks face east to west, the next three north to south, and so on and so forth.

There are a total of 18 layers that form the full tower. The aim of the game is to remove one block from the tower (not from the top or under the top layer if the top is not complete) and then stack it on top of the tower.

If a player causes the Jenga tower to tumble, the person who went before them is the winner (the last person to successfully stack a block on top without causing the tower to fall is the winner).

What is Blockade?

Blockade, also known as Cul-de-sac, is a game played on an 11 x 14 board (grid spaces). This is a two-player game, with both players getting two pawns that can move, as well as nine blue walls and nine green walls each.

Both pawns of both players start in specific locations on the grid, with the aim being to get your two pawns to the starting location of the opponent’s pawns.

The player who can first get their pawns into the starting locations of the opponent’s pawns is the winner. Those green and blue walls are used to erect barriers to block your opponent’s moves.

Similarities of Jenga and Blockade

Now that we know what Jenga and blockade are, let’s figure out what makes them similar. As you are about to figure out, the similarities are extremely limited as they are basically two completely different games.

#1: Both Are Family Friendly

One of the most basic similarities that both these games share is that they are both very family-friendly. Neither game is very hard at all and both are more than easy enough for little children to play. These are not very strategy-heavy games, although they do involve a bit of strategy.

#2: Both Go Pretty Fast

Another similarity that both of these games share is that they don’t take very long to complete. You can expect both games to take no longer than 20 minutes to play, with Jenga probably being the faster of the two. They’re not games like Monopoly that take hours and hours to play.

#3: Both Require Some Strategy

Yes, we did say that both games are very easy and don’t require much strategy, but both do require minimal amounts of it. That said, they are not nearly as strategy-heavy as games such as chess, Go, or Shogi. Although both do require some strategy when it comes down to it, they are some of the easiest games out there.

Differences Between Jenga and Blockade

With that out of the way, let’s go through the differences between the two.

#1: Blockade Is More Strategic in Nature

Yes, we’re still on the topic of strategy here, but the fact of the matter is that Blockade is a bit more strategic in nature in the sense that players do have to think about where they will move both of their pawns, as well as where to erect the barriers in order to block opponents.

Yes, Jenga is still a bit strategic in nature because you have to choose the right blocks so that the tower does not fall, but with that said, Jenga does also involve a manual aspect. In other words, in Jenga, you have to have manual dexterity and steady hands in order to win. Jenga is a lot more physical than it is strategic.

#2: Jenga Requires Manual Dexterity

As mentioned above, Jenga is a game that requires a good bit of manual dexterity, whereas Blockade requires none whatsoever.

#3: Number of Players

Jenga can be played by four or more players (or as few as two), but Blockade is strictly a two-player game.

#4: Overall Gameplay

When it comes down to it, these are just two totally different games that really don’t share any similarities. As far as gameplay is concerned, one game is about building a tower and making sure that it does not fall down, whereas the other one is about getting your pawns to the starting point of the opponents while using barriers to block your opponent’s moves. As you can tell, they’re just two completely different games.

Jenga vs. Blockade: Which of the Two Should You Get?

If you want a good two-player game that is somewhat strategic in nature, but still fairly easy to play, then Blockade is a good way to go. However, if you want a game that can be played by four or more players, one that involves virtually no strategy and is more about manual dexterity than anything else, then Jenga is the way to go.

Summary

Now that you know what the similarities and differences between Jenga and Blockade are, you can make a well-informed decision as to what your next game purchase will be.