- Publisher(s) : Studio H
- Designer(s) : Hugo Frénoy
- Artist(s): Xavier Gueniffey Durin
- Players : 2
- Playing time : 10–45 Min
- Weight BGG : 1.96
What's this?
Leaders is a board game exclusively for two players , focused on tactical confrontation.
How do you play?
A game of LEADERS is structured around fluid turns broken down into two distinct phases until your team is complete :
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The Action Phase: For each of your characters on the board (your Leader and your recruits), you can perform a single action of your choice . You can either move the character to an adjacent empty space or use their specific active skill . The skills are varied: the Knight charges in a straight line, the Grappling Hook pulls its targets, and the Illusionist swaps places with another token .
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The Recruitment Phase: Until you have a total of 5 characters (your Leader + 4 recruits), you must choose one of the three cards available in the common river . You then place the corresponding token on one of your recruitment spaces at the edge of the board.
The ultimate goal is to capture the opposing Leader . The game ends immediately if a Leader is:
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Captured: Two enemy characters are located on squares adjacent to him .
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Surrounded: All the squares around him are occupied, whether by allies or enemies .
Is it good?
LEADERS shines with its elegance and accessibility, which nevertheless conceal a real strategic depth, thanks in particular to its passive and active skills that allow for surprising combos and tactics. With few rules, the game offers tense duels where every carefully considered move can lead you to victory. The game is similar to chess: you must anticipate your opponent’s next moves, try to read their mind, and lay traps for them.
While the classic mode is perfect for beginners, the “Strategy Mode” offers an additional dimension by allowing you to ban certain characters, transforming the recruitment phase into a real psychological battle.
However, a significant skill gap can sometimes be observed between beginners and experienced players. Some games can be very quick, while others suggest an inevitable defeat just a few turns before the end, condemning the player to mere defensive survival. This frustration can arise if the right characters don’t appear in the river at the right time or if the initial choices lack coherence.
That said, LEADERS remains a streamlined dueling game that manages to offer a wealth of tactical depth with minimal rules. It’s a condensed, modern, fast-paced chess experience, enhanced by high-quality components and a stunning tabletop presence that quickly makes you forget these minor drawbacks.
Leaders Review
Positives
- Immediate accessibility
- Aesthetics and materials
- Strategic Depth
- Quick games
- An elegant and tense game
Negatives
- Level difference
- A feeling of inevitability
- River dependency
- It remains an abstract game
