Samurai: The Card Game (2009)

About this game

Samurai: The Card Game simulates the board game by placing village cards (actually, square tiles) to build out the "board" and then allowing each player to play one of their 5 cards from their hands, drawn from identical player decks. A village (awarding its indicated shape tokens) is scored when 4 cards surround the sides. A new village is placed when two different players cards create a location for it to be placed. The game uses "Knizia" style scoring, where having a dominating majority in a single shape category merely qualifies you for the win, but it is your total in the other two shapes which are compared for winning.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 4.
• Rules load. At 2.0/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.