- BGG rank
- BGG #3,953
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Hokkaido
- 2–5 players
- 30–40 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,496
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Honshū
2016
Rules assistance for Honshū
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Honshū
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Honshū is a board game released in 2016 for 2–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Kalle Malmioja and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Auction / Bidding, and Variable Set-up.
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About the game
Honshu is a map-building card game set in feudal Japan. Players are lords and ladies of noble houses seeking new lands and opportunities for fame and fortune. One game of Honshu lasts twelve rounds, and each round is divided into two phases. First, map cards are played in a trick, and the player who played the highest valued card gets to pick first from those cards played. Then the players use the map cards picked to expand their personal maps. Each player must expand their personal maps to maximize their scoring possibilities. Manipulating your position in the player order is crucial for mastering Honshu.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Pegasus Spiele
- Lucrum Games
- Lautapelit.fi
- Conclave Editora
- Renegade Game Studios
- HOT Games
- Blackrock Games
- Games 4 Gamers
- Playagame Edizioni
Questions and answers
Honshū supports 2–5 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 Honshū is 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 Honshū 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.
Honshū has a complexity rating of 1.9 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.
Honshū belongs to these categories: Card Game, Territory Building, and City Building. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Auction / Bidding, and Variable Set-up. 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 Honshū are: Kalle Malmioja. 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 Honshū 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.