Barnes & Noble Announces Qawale as Their January Game of the Month

Victory is only a stone’s throw away!

New York, NY – January 11, 2024 – Barnes & Noble announces Qawale as its Game of the Month pick for January. The beautifully designed, addictive new game from Hachette Boardgames fits right at home in any game collection — or better yet, displayed as a centerpiece on a coffee table.

“Our booksellers could not be more enthusiastic that Qawale is our newest Barnes & Noble Game of the Month,” said Marnie Lawrence, Senior Director of Toys and Games at Barnes & Noble. “We like to think of it as Mancala meets Four in a Row. Its objective is simple — line up four stones in a row — but players are challenged to think strategically and anticipate their opponent’s next move to avoid their stones being stacked upon. And of course, the game is as visually appealing as it is entertaining!”

Qawale is a tactical strategy game where two players compete to lay stones of their designated color in a path of four. Inspired by the real-life tradition of building cairns along trails — on their turn, each opponent adds a stone on top of any existing pile and has the opportunity to move the pile; however, they must leave one stone behind on each space crossed. Once four stones of the same color lie at the top of the pile, the game is won.

"We're delighted and honored for Qawale to be featured as a Barnes & Noble Game of the Month,” said T. Caires, Director of Hachette Boardgames USA. “Qawale offers a delightful blend of entertainment and strategy due to its classic feel but modern gameplay — a perfect game for the Barnes & Noble audience."

The Barnes & Noble Game of the Month program delivers game enthusiasts the very best thought-provoking games on the market. As with books, games stimulate the mind and push boundaries of the imagination. The bookseller is proud to present such a wide assortment including games like Qawale which customers can find on display at their local Barnes & Noble and on bn.com.