
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Hierarchy: Emissary
- 1 player
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2020

2020
Rules assistance for Hierarchy
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hierarchy is a board game released in 2020 for 2 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Hugo Kawamata and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
In the Kingdom of Darkhill, order and power mean everything. The royalty reign supreme, but alongside of their control are the plotting citizens, planning to get ahead using any means possible. Hierarchy is an abstract game of order and power where players each take a random set of 7 cards and play them openly, until they cannot play any more. Cards must be played atop a card of a lesser value, unless either the last card - or the currently played card change those rules. When the active player can no longer play a card, their opponent has won the game and has taken the seat of power away from their opponent. —description from the publisher Released in the January 2020 Board Game of the Month Club $20+ package.
Hierarchy 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 Hierarchy is 20 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 Hierarchy 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.
Hierarchy has a complexity rating of 1.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Hierarchy belongs to these categories: Card Game, Print & Play, and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. 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 Hierarchy are: Hugo Kawamata. 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 Hierarchy 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.