
- BGG rank
- BGG #38
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Wingspan
- 1–5 players
- 40–70 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2019
- Ask about the rules

Rules assistance for Kanji Battle
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kanji Battle is a board game released in 2007 for 2–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by María José Platero and Salva Martínez and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
In this card game you take the role of a Japanese mage, and you will battle others that, like you, long for the power the Kirin confer to their lords. For that, you will have to use spells binding the power the kanji give to the cards. In turns, you will choose how to combine them to make the most spectacular attack, to obtain one of the three Kirin cards that will give you the victory. Kanji battle is an agile game, quick to learn, where you will have a good time diving into the most magical Japan. Learn Japanese playing... Moreover, if you love the Japanese culture and you want to get fluent with the language, with the game you will learn to read kanji easily. The deck consists of 100 cards needed to pass the Official Level 4 Japanese exam (Noken 4), and can be used both to play and to study the language. Home Page: http://kanjibattle.edgeent.com
Kanji Battle supports 2–6 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 Kanji Battle is 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 Kanji Battle 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.
Kanji Battle 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.
Kanji Battle belongs to these categories: Card Game and Educational. 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 Kanji Battle are: María José Platero and Salva Martínez. 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 Kanji Battle 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.