- BGG rank
- BGG #3,117
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Kingmaker
- 2–7 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 1974
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,552
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Kingmaker
2023
Rules assistance for Kingmaker
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–6 players
- 120–300 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.2/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Kingmaker
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kingmaker is a board game released in 2023 for 1–6 players, 120–300 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Andrew McNeil and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Events.
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About the game
Kingmaker: The Royal Re-Launch depicts the period of English history in the 15th century that became known as the Wars of the Roses. It is based on the premise that the powerful noble families used the Lancastrian and Yorkist royalty as pawns in a greater game for the control of the kingdom. Players manoeuvre Noble pieces representing the leaders of 24 major families in England and Wales, in order to gain control over a Royal piece of their own, while also eliminating rival Royal pieces and weakening their opponents. It is a game of political and military action, and the ability to react to unforeseen events. You win by a combination of military, political, and diplomatic skills. There are four games in Kingmaker: The Royal Re-Launch: The new Kingmaker II for 2 to 5 players, for those who prefer a shorter game with a greater variety of win conditions, including prestige gained through domination of the government, cities, and the church. The original Classic Kingmaker for 2 to 6 players, where the only path to victory is through controlling the last crowned Royal piece. Extended Classic Kingmaker with extra Crown and Event cards along with additional optional rules for Parliament and battles, in which dice can be used to determine whether Nobles and Royal pieces live or die. The Solo Challenge, for solitaire play. As a player, you control a Faction consisting of one or more Nobles. Each Noble piece you play on the board has a corresponding Noble card which you display in your Faction space on the table. You can strengthen your Nobles with Titles, Offices and other cards, such as Bishops, Mercenaries, and Ships. At the beginning of your turn, you draw a card from the Event deck, and all players follow its instructions. During your turn, you may move your Noble pieces, fight battles, and conduct sieges. You may also have the opportunity to call Parliament to gain the benefit of additional Titles and Offices, and perhaps the chance to crown a new King. At the end of your turn, you draw from the Crown deck, which may enable you to add a new Noble to your Faction or increase the power of a Noble already in play.
Designers
Publishers
- Gibsons
Questions and answers
Kingmaker supports 1–6 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 Kingmaker is 120–300 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 Kingmaker 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.
Kingmaker has a complexity rating of 3.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Kingmaker belongs to these categories: Wargame, Medieval, and Political. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Events. 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 Kingmaker are: Andrew McNeil. 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 Kingmaker 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.