Domino! Review

Domino! is another in the quickly developing genre of asynchronous social games on mobile platforms. These are the kinds of game where players take turns back and forth and they don't all have to be actively playing the game at the same time. Once a player take their move, the other players are notified, see the move their opponent took, and make their own move. Many classic board games and game types have been co-opted by countless developers in search of the next Words With Friends or Draw Something.

In Domino! players, to no surprise, play dominoes against each other. A Facebook account is required to play against other players, but once signed in to an account there is no need to create another account specifically for the game. Once logged in players can access all of their Facebook friends and challenge them directly. They can also choose to face off against random opponents, or even test themselves against computer opponents. This last option is accessible even if no Facebook account is linked to the game.

The gameplay plays out exactly like a classic dominoes with each player receiving random dominoes and trying to match them to the dominoes on the board while creating endings in multiples of five. If that sounds at all confusing, an in-game tutorial is there to guide players unfamiliar with the game. Players can watch as opponents take turns, but don't need to. Once an opponent has taken their turn players will be notified via a push notification. Players can also have several games going at once so they don't have to wait too long on slower games. A chat feature is also included so opponents can communicate during games.

Much of what makes Domino! a good game is what makes any social game like this good. The game can be played at any pace and with several people at once. Players who enjoy a game of dominoes should give this one a try, and true to the trend they can do so by purchasing the paid app or just downloading the free, ad supported version.