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 :-)

[addendum] Regarding Jenga, there is a 2016 game by designer Masoccer, called Tumiki Maze that is very interesting:

• There are five shapes of wood tiles (ten pieces of each type?) and two pawns for each player.
• First place the board on the table, and then put the pawns appropriately on it.
• On his turn, the player places two pieces on the structure, and then move one of his pawns that must be placed higher.
• The player unable to do it, or the player that collapses the structure, loses the game.