Samurai
Abstract Strategy · Medieval

Samurai

Samurai is set in medieval Japan. Players compete to gain the favor of three factions: samurai, peasants, and priests, which are represented by helmet, rice paddy, and Buddha figures scattered about the board, which features the islands of Japan. The competition is waged through the use of hexagonal tiles, each of which help curry favor of one of the three factions — or all three at once! Players can make lightning-quick strikes with horseback ronin and ships or approach their conquests more methodically. As each figure (helmets, rice paddies, and Buddhas) is surrounded, it is awarded to the player who has gained the most favor with the corresponding group.

2–4 players60 minages 10medium difficulty
About the game

What is Samurai

Samurai is set in medieval Japan. Players compete to gain the favor of three factions: samurai, peasants, and priests, which are represented by helmet, rice paddy, and Buddha figures scattered about the board, which features the islands of Japan. The competition is waged through the use of hexagonal tiles, each of which help curry favor of one of the three factions — or all three at once! Players can make lightning-quick strikes with horseback ronin and ships or approach their conquests more methodically. As each figure (helmets, rice paddies, and Buddhas) is surrounded, it is awarded to the player who has gained the most favor with the corresponding group.

Gameplay continues until all the symbols of one type have been removed from the board or four figures have been removed from play due to a tie for influence.

At the end of the game, players compare captured symbols of each type, competing for majorities in each of the three types. Ties are not uncommon and are broken based on the number of other, "non-majority" symbols each player has collected.

The game is part of what is sometimes called the Knizia tile-laying trilogy.

Specs

Game details

Players
2–4
Age
+10
Duration
60 min
Difficulty
Medium
Type
Board game
Year
1998
Mechanics
Area Majority / Influence · Hand Management · Hexagon Grid
Categories
Abstract Strategy · Medieval
Designer
Reiner Knizia
Publisher
Lacerta · Lanlalen · Yaofish Games · Lighthouse Games
Images

Samurai gallery

Community data

Samurai on Meeplay

See what the Meeplay community plays and thinks about Samurai, and add your own plays to the record.

17Plays recorded on Meeplay+867 plays imported from BoardGameGeek
182Own it in their collection
7.8Average rating
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Reviews

What the community says about Samurai

jonnyutah
jonnyutah9/10
de 2 a 4, tablero juegazo, por el pasan los años esteticamente hablando. Me gusta mas "a traves del desierto"
Javi36
Javi369/10
Excellent game, with very nice components. Quite difficult decissions, especially with more than two players. Difficult to win. UPDATE July 6th, 2018: After more than ten years without playing, I could enjoy it again. There have been essential changes in the gaming escene, and although in my opinion games like Samurai may be not be big hits nowadays, there is also a kind of respect to games that have proven to be classic masterpieces. Actually, Samurai has been recently released with a touch of make up to make it (arguably) more attractive. Now, with a much higher background, I have redisc
Kikaytete
Kikaytete9/10
5-6 45% http://loquenomegustadel.blogspot.com.es/2012/03/samurai.html
Mishigeek
Mishigeek8.5/10
Se queda
byfed
byfed7.5/10
Juego abstracto de knizia, de mayorías, en el que sobre un tablero hay hexágonos que contienen capital, ciudades y puelbos sobre los que hay 3, 2 y 1 tokens respectivamente y los jugadores deben ir colocando sus fichas en los hexágonos adjacentes para ejercer influencia sobre ellos. Cuando un token es rodeado, se evalua quién ha ejercido más influencia y es quien se queda con el token. Muy sencillo de reglas, pero con chicha. El knizia bueno. Se lo compré a Torpedo el 22/02/2026 junto a un The Game y un High Society, por 55€ el pack.
Meeplay_7970
Meeplay_79708/10
Gran juego con sencillas reglas.
dieterminator
dieterminator7/10
Wished design like player colors, icon consistency was clearer, felt it s little luck based
zarapukcy
zarapukcy9.9/10
Hace poco lo jugué y conocí, después de este juego ahora sé que los juegos de estrategia son lo mío.
FAQ

Everything about Samurai

How many players is Samurai for?

Samurai plays with 2–4 players.

How long does a game take?

A game takes about 60 minutes.

What age is it suitable for?

It is recommended from age 10.

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