- Publisher(s) : Queen Games
- Designer(s) : Donald X. Vaccarino
- Artist(s) : Oliver Schlemmer
- Players : 2–4
- Playing time : 45 Min
- Weight BGG : 2.07
What's this?
Kingdom Builder is a board game by Donald X. Vaccarino (also known for Dominion), published in 2011. It is an accessible strategy game where players embody settlers building their villages in a constantly changing kingdom.
How do you play?
A game of Kingdom Builder takes place over several turns, with each player performing a mandatory main action and, possibly, additional actions .
Game round
- Play a terrain card : the player must place 3 of his houses on free squares of the corresponding type (forest, desert, prairie, etc.).
- Requirement: If possible, houses must be placed adjacent to other player houses.
- Activate special tiles : by placing near certain places (castles, taverns, oases, etc.), you gain tiles which offer bonus actions such as moving a house, placing an additional one or bypassing certain constraints.
- Draw a new land card for the next turn.
End of game
The game ends as soon as a player has placed all of their houses. The points are then counted:
- The 3 common objective cards earn the majority of points.
- Castles on the board also give a bonus to those building nearby.
Is it good?
What’s so appealing about Kingdom Builder is its incredibly simple rules coupled with tactical depth. Within minutes, even beginners will understand the principle: you draw a Terrain card and place three adjacent settlements. But behind this obviousness, every decision counts. You have to constantly adapt to the objective cards and special action tiles: it’s an exercise in optimization where each placement, constrained by the card drawn, becomes crucial to unlocking new powers or positioning yourself ideally to score points.
The game also shines with its replayability, thanks to the modular boards, action tiles, and objectives that change with each game. Fast-paced and elegant, it pushes you to be opportunistic and efficient with each turn, and the fluidity of the games often makes you want to continue.
On the other hand, we can criticize it for an inherent element of chance in the drawing of cards, which is sometimes frustrating, as well as a rather tacky and abstract theme.
Ultimately, Kingdom Builder succeeds in being both accessible and clever, with clear rules but real strategic depth. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, replayable game that’ll make you think without any hassle, it definitely deserves a place in your library.
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Kingdom builder review
Positives
- Very simple rules and accessible in a few minutes.
- Quick games (30-45 min)
- Interesting strategy and optimization despite the basic simplicity.
- Suitable for both casual and more experienced gamers.
Negatives
- Strong element of chance linked to the drawing of Terrain cards.
- Quite a flat and abstract theme, not very immersive.
- Possibility of frustration when stuck with mandatory investments.
- Limited player interaction (mainly field blocking).
