- BGG rating
- 4.6
King Down: Keepers of the King
- 2–4 players
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,716
- BGG rating
- 4.7
King Down
2015
Rules assistance for King Down
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.5/5
Rules assistant for King Down
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
King Down is a board game released in 2015 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Saar Shai and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Action Points.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 4.3
King Down: Shadow & Spirit
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 2015
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About the game
From the four corners of the land come four pretenders to the throne, each claiming to be the rightful heir. As the four would-be Kings march towards the capitol, they gather their armies, preparing for battle. One comes for Glory. One comes for Greed. One comes for Blood. One comes for Honour. King Down is an epic strategy game for 2-4 players, where each player allies themselves with one King, hand picks their army and goes into battle by competing to take down the other Kings and cross the board to victory. Described as ‘the prequel to Chess’, King Down incorporates age-old, intricate and fascinating mechanics from ‘the Game of Kings’ but breaks all the rules by re-imagining the classic pieces, introducing brand new characters, and including new spell cards, strategies, tactics and win conditions. King Down is a brand new game that will stand the test of time and last the ages. Game components: Rule book Double-sided game board 40 miniatures (10 per player) 80 game cards
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- (Self-Published)
Questions and answers
King Down 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 King Down 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 King Down 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.
King Down 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.
King Down belongs to these categories: Fantasy and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Action Points. 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 King Down are: Saar Shai. 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 King Down 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.