Ablaze is actually three games in one box, as there are rules for three different games included. The three mostly abstract games play very differently, but all involve placing pawns on a grid of hexagonal flaming forest tiles.
Vital Stats
Players: 2 to 4
Time: 20 to 30 Minutes
Designer: Heinrich Glumpler
Publisher: Mayfair Games
Components: 48 plastic pawns (12 in each color), 47 hexagonal flaming forest tiles (with numbers from 1 to 6), 1 plane tile, 1 volcano tile. The flaming tiles all have a 0 with flames on the back, and are thematic if a bit busy.
Gameplay Summary
Ablaze actually consists of three distinct games, each with their own rules.
WILD FIRE is a game that starts with four tiles connected in the center. On your turn, you flip up one new tile and add it to the board at a location with the highest combined fire number. Then you may place your pawns on any one tile that still has spaces left. At the end of the game, you count up the numbers on all adjacent tiles you occupy, and divide by the lowest numbered tile in that region to get your score.
VOLCANO begins with all of the tiles laid out in a giant mass, with the volcano in the middle. On your turn, you fly the plane in a straight line over a set of tiles, dropping one pawn on each tile with an open space. When a tile has no open spaces, and at least two open edges, whoever has the most pawns on the tile removes and scores it, with ties going to the active player.
ON THE RUN again starts with a small set of four tiles and an ever-expanding play area, but in addition to adding a tile and placing pawns on your turn, you may also move all of your pawns on one number tile to any adjacent region, including the safe area around the edge of the tile mass. Only one pawn can be in each safe area edge, and when all tiles are placed and edges are occupied, you want to have the most pawns to have escaped the flaming forest to the edge.
NOTE: This is only a brief summary, with many details omitted.
The Good And Bad
Good Stuff
Three games in one box is good value for a single game purchase. Many boardgames don't even include an expansion, so to have a box that has rules for three completely different games for the included pieces gives the box more replay value. What's more, there are even variants for the different games, making this a box of many games.
The flaming forest is an interesting theme, and not one that has been used very often in board games. Definitely caught my interest.
The games play very differently. WILD FIRE is an area control game about amassing a large connected region, ON THE RUN is a race game where you're running for the edges, and VOLCANO is a neat little game that feels a bit like the old boxes and lines game where you're trying not to leave the last edge for an opponent.
VOLCANO is probably the best of the three, perhaps because it is the least random, and offers the opportunity for some clever plays.
Bad Stuff
Although the topic of a flaming forest may make for an interesting theme, it's barely present in the gameplay. In spite of the flaming forest tiles that make up the board, this set of games is pretty clearly abstract, and the theme all but disappears as you play. Consequently, the games are somewhat bland. There's nothing wrong with them, per se, but also nothing in them that recommends them above other games unless you're a big abstract fan.
Conclusion
If you're looking for good gaming value, Ablaze! offers three different games in a single box. Those who already own lots of board games may not find anything exciting about Ablaze, but fans of light abstract games may well appreciate VOLCANO.