Korea Boardgames has released Jakryongtu, a board game where two players engage in a tactical battle with four pieces each on a 3×4 board. The game is based on Dobutsu Shogi (どうぶつしょうぎ), which was originally introduced in 2008.
The original game was designed by female Japanese professional Shogi player Madoka Kitao, who simplified Shogi so that children and beginners could easily enjoy it. Jakryongtu adapts this framework with themes of the four divine beasts: the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise.
To begin the game, two players place four pieces each in their respective territories and take turns moving. On each turn, a player moves a piece in the direction of the arrow indicated on it, capturing an opponent's piece if it lands on the same space.
Instead of moving an existing piece on a turn, a player can reintroduce a captured opponent's piece back onto the board. The newly placed piece is then used as their own, capturing the signature Shogi mechanic of turning captured opponent pieces into allies.
On the compact board, pieces clash quickly, keeping matches short. With few components and minimal space required, players can easily enjoy multiple rounds back-to-back in a single sitting.
