- BGG rating
- 8.0
Heart of Crown: Far East Territory
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,593
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Heart of Crown
2011
Rules assistance for Heart of Crown
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Heart of Crown
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Heart of Crown is a board game released in 2011 for 2–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by ginkgo and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Open Drafting.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Heart of Crown: Northern Enchantress
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2012
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Heart of Crown: Six City Alliance
- 2–4 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2014
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Heart of Crown: Path Before Heaven
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Heart of Crown: Fairy Garden – Advanced Play Mini Expansion
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2019
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About the game
They were tough times, the days when swords and magic still ruled the world. A long, destructive war had ended, and the entire continent had been unified. Before the empire's subjects had even come to know peace, however, their great emperor fell victim to disease, having never declared a successor... We must not return to that war-torn world! Thankfully you are an influential figure in the empire. Quickly lay claim to the throne and ensure the rock-solid unity and peace of the continent. Though the emperor had no son, there are seven candidates for succession, starting with the two lineal princesses. Now, let's get your favorite princess on the emperor's throne! Garner support from all over the country, clash with rival candidates and depend on your special skill! Heart of Crown is a deck-building card game. Each player starts with the same deck, strengthens that deck with strategic cards, and finally one player will declare victory by throning the princess he controls. Each player's deck starts with seven "Rural" territory cards and three "Apprentice Handmaid" succession cards (an unreliable subject). Using the currency (coins) generated by your "Rural" territory cards, you incorporate cards from the market into your deck according to your own strategy. Each player's main goal is to give the princess he's fielded the throne. First, collect stronger territory cards such as "City" and "Metropolis" to increase your coins, and declare fielding a princess using these coins. There are five princesses and one set of twin princesses, totaling six princess cards. Each princess has special support abilities, but with only one of each, you need to be quick to field the right princess and get the support you need! For your princess to take the throne, you must collect Succession Points, which represent the support of your loyal subjects and influential figures in the empire. Once you control 20 Succession Points, you may declare a coronation. Your opponents get one more turn to interrupt your coronation, but if your points remain at or above 20 by your next turn, the coronation succeeds and your princess takes the throne!
Designers
Publishers
- Japanime Games
- Japon Brand
- FLIPFLOPs
- Hangom Games
Questions and answers
Heart of Crown supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Heart of Crown is 30–60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Heart of Crown for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Heart of Crown has a complexity rating of 2.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Heart of Crown belongs to these categories: Card Game and Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Open Drafting. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Heart of Crown are: ginkgo. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Heart of Crown as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.