Pusher, Leverage, and Physics

Pusher is a 1993 game by Werner Falkhof, and published by ASS Altenburger Spielkarten.

The game works for two or three people, and has a dexterity element to it.

The rules,

Since there is Physics involved (players push balls in non-deterministic ways) this is a game that looks abstract, but isn't. Something between a mini-pool and Subbuteo, which is very hard to design well.

Indeed, the last part of a review by Ben Baldanza:

Pusher is another great-looking game that disappoints in play. I give Theta credit for trying to integrate a dexterity mechanic into a placement and seemingly strategic context, but the result is more chaos than strategy.

 

 

A game that better approaches the problem of mixing Abstract Strategy and Physics is Leverage:

 

 

No, I didn't forget Jenga: not obscure enough :-)