- BGG rank
- BGG #17,990
- BGG rating
- 6.6
NXS
- 2–3 players
- 15–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,825
- BGG rating
- 7.9
heXentafl
2020
Rules assistance for heXentafl
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 15–30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 3.0/5
Rules assistant for heXentafl
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
heXentafl is a board game released in 2020 for 2 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Kevin Kane and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
heXentafl is an asymmetric abstract strategy game that is a hexagonal version of Hnefatafl. One side (white) plays the attackers, and one side (black) plays the defenders. heXentafl can be played on a 4x4 or 5x5 hex grid. The King sits on the central space, the throne, surrounded by three defenders. Six attackers sit on the outer corners of the grid. The attackers must capture the King in order to win. The defenders must escort the King to any of the six corners of the board in order to win. The defenders usually move first, but either works. It is recommended that players play in sets of two games, alternating who is the attacker and who is the defender. All pieces except the King move in a straight line, as many spaces as they like to an unoccupied space (like a rook in Chess). Only one piece at a time can occupy a space. A piece cannot jump over another piece. The King can move into any vacant adjacent space, moving one space at a time (similar to the king in Chess). Pieces are captured by surrounding them on two sides. In the image shown, white moves into position to surround the King and capture it, winning the game. The corners present an interesting challenge, as they can't be surrounded in the normal manner. Pieces can be captured on a corner by surrounding them in the manner shown. You cannot "capture" your own piece by moving between two enemy pieces. The Throne The central space of the board is the throne. Only the King may occupy the throne. When the King is on the throne, he is harder to capture. —description from the publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- nestorgames
- Kanare_Abstract
Questions and answers
heXentafl supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for heXentafl is 15–30 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 heXentafl for ages 8 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.
heXentafl has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
heXentafl belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid. 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 heXentafl are: Kevin Kane. 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 heXentafl 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.