A game apparatus and a method using trays as the game board with vertical support columns, two sets of playing pieces and two launching devices. The one or more vertical support columns attach to the one or more trays to support the trays horizontally above a support surface. On the surface of each of the trays is a matrix and each element of the matrix has a recessed compartment orthogonal to the surface of the tray. Each recessed compartment is sized to hold a multiplicity of both types of playing pieces in a stacked manner. The launching devices are used to launch the playing pieces from the launching devices into the recessed compartments on the trays. Games are played with two or more players and the object of the game is for one player to be the first to build a predetermined pattern.