Awale Online - Oware Awari

What Awale Online is and who it suits

Awale Online - Oware Awari is an Android version of Oware, a two-player strategy game in the Mancala family. The developer lists several other names the game goes by, including Ayo in Nigeria, Bambara in Mali, Awele in Ivory Coast, Wolof in Senegal, Uril in Cape Verde and Akan in Ghana. The aim is to capture more seeds than your opponent.

The developer presents it for players at every level, from beginners to the strongest players, and as a way to meet opponents from around the world. Those two uses shape most of the app: a computer opponent you can set to different strengths, and matches against real people online.

Playing online against other people

Online play starts with a Google Play Games login, which the listing ties to rated games and Adventure Mode. You can look for a real opponent in either a rated game or an unrated one. A ranking view shows players who are currently online, and you can challenge a friend directly.

During a match you can send messages to your opponent. Games are recorded automatically, and a finished game can be reviewed afterwards. For two people sharing one device, a face-to-face mode is included.

Playing the computer and studying the game

The computer opponent has seven strength levels, and the listing says the strength is adjustable. Pressing and holding a hole shows how many seeds it contains, which helps when you are counting moves ahead.

Study Mode is built around games played by professionals. It covers openings and endgames, and the developer presents it as a way to improve your play rather than only a way to play. A Help button explains how the game works, and the rules are available in English, French, Spanish and German.

The board can be set up to suit you. You can change the background and the colours of the board, and landscape mode is available for playing with the screen turned sideways.

Adventure Mode, rewards and the premium subscription

Adventure Mode is the listing's route to earning rewards in the game, and it requires the same Google Play Games login as rated play.

The premium version is a subscription bought inside the app. It gives full access to the Master and Grandmaster levels, removes ads and adds 550 game tokens. It also adds friends login notifications, a feature the listing calls removal of token losses, and backup save and restore.