- BGG rating
- 7.3
Kingdom Builder: Nomads
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #792
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Kingdom Builder
2011
Rules assistance for Kingdom Builder
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Kingdom Builder
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kingdom Builder is a board game released in 2011 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Donald X. Vaccarino and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Variable Set-up, and Tile Placement.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Kingdom Builder: Crossroads
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2013
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Kingdom Builder: Marshlands
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2016
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Kingdom Builder: Harvest
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Kingdom Builder: Queenie 4 – The Emperor's Choice
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- 2023
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About the game
In Kingdom Builder, the players create their own kingdoms by skillfully building their settlements, aiming to earn the most gold at the end of the game. Nine different kinds of terrain are on the variable game board, including locations and castles. During his turn, a player plays his terrain card and builds three settlements on three hexes of this kind. If possible, a new settlement must be built next to one of that player’s existing settlements. When building next to a location, the player may seize an extra action tile that he may use from his next turn on. These extra actions allow extraordinary actions such as moving your settlements. By building next to a castle, the player will earn gold at the end of the game, but the most gold will be earned by meeting the conditions of the three Kingdom Builder cards; these three cards (from a total of ten in the game) specify the conditions that must be met in order to earn the much-desired gold, such as earning gold for your settlements built next to water hexes or having the majority of settlements in a sector of the board. Each game, players will use a random set of Kingdom Builder cards (3 of 10), special actions (4 of 8), and terrain sectors to build the map (4 of 8), ensuring you won't play the same game twice!
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Enigma (Bergsala Enigma)
- Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- Queen Games
- Lautapelit.fi
- Evrikus
Questions and answers
Kingdom Builder 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 Kingdom Builder is 45 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 Kingdom Builder 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.
Kingdom Builder has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Kingdom Builder belongs to these categories: Territory Building and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Variable Set-up, and Tile Placement. 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 Kingdom Builder are: Donald X. Vaccarino. 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 Kingdom Builder 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.