Shogun
$69.99
Shogun at a Glance
| Game Type Medieval Theme, Territory Building, Economic, Area Movement, Auction/Bidding, Cube Tower | Play Time 150 mins | Skill/Complexity (4 - 5) Medium - Heavy |
| Age 12+ | Publisher(s) Queens Games | Published 2006 |
| Categories Strategy | Players 3 - 5 | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 8.5/10 | Cost $50 - $80 + | Expansions Tenno's Court |
About – Description
Shogan is a strategy type game that is based around the medieval period in Japan. The game is more suited to those who have some experience of playing strategy games while the game is suitable for players aged 12 and over.
It was designed in 2006 by Dirk Henn and is based on an earlier game known as Wallenstein. The playing time of Shogun is 150 minutes and it is suitable for 3 -5 players.
Who’s it best suited for?
The age range of the game suggests that this is more suited to older players and those who have a liking for strategy based games.
Shogun can be seen to be educational in some aspects due to the way in which players have to take a strategic approach but in the main, this is a game that will please strategy gamers.
Skill – Complexity
There is a considerable amount of skill and complexity required to play this game. It requires a tactical approach as players have to control areas, make decisions and control battles.
All in, this is a game that has an above average complexity rating, indicating that players should have experience of these type of games.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
Set up takes around ten minutes with each player choosing a color and the board is set out along with 62 armies, a daimyo card and a chest of cards and so, the number of players depends on the number of chests players take.
Each player takes on the role of Daimyo and they have troops. In order to grow their kingdom, each player or Daimyo has 10 actions that they can take, these will also earn them points.
Players must send out their armies and during each round, they determine which actions are to be used and in which province they should take place.
If a battle takes place, the Cube tower takes the lead. The troops are thrown together and any cubes that fall from the bottom determine who has won.
Players earn points when they own provinces, temples, theaters and castles and once the second tally has been made, the player with the most points becomes Shogun and the winner.
This how to play video is very useful…….
Other Versions, Editions or Expansions Available?
This is a game that has been released in a number of countries although there are no special editions. There has been an expansion pack released known as Tenno’s Court.
Likes & Dislikes
- Great design and theme.
- A nice mix of battling and administration.
- Players love the solid gameplay associated with the game while the depth of it is enough to keep even the hardened strategy game players intrigued.
- Many players love the dice tower.
- An interesting mix of mechanics that somehow work well.
- Players find that the experience improves each time it is played although the length of the game can be a problem, especially if the rules have to be learned by new players.
Final Thoughts
This is undoubtedly a great strategy game that certainly has players immersed from the moment they begin playing. However, the setup and strategy aspect of the game does mean that it is limited to a specific audience.
Despite this, for those who enjoy games such as this will find that this ticks every box.
