Set & Match (ML)

Set & Match is played on a game board representing a tennis court where players, in singles or doubles, flick the ball back and forth.

The genius mechanic is the rally counter. It has three boxes on each side of the net, one in the center. At the start of a rally, the cursor is placed on square 0. Each shot played has a value equal to the value on the square where your ball lands (from 0 to 3). The value is higher on the lanes or at the back of the court, which are more difficult to reach. If the value of the square is 2, you push the cursor two squares toward your opponent. If in response, they return the ball to a square 3, they push the cursor back 3, and so on, until they reach one of the squares 3, scoring the point.

The game wonderfully captures the tension of a tennis match, minus the physical fitness and fatigue, and plus the laughter.