
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,607
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Mermaid Rain
- 3–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2003
%2Fpic138530.jpg@webp)
2003
Rules assistance for King's Blood
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player
%2Fpic138530.jpg@webp)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
King's Blood is a board game released in 2003 for 1–6 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Hitoshi Yasuda and Tadaaki Kawahito and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Open Drafting.
From the Steve Jackson Games website: Marriage. Royalty. Tragedy. Will your line reign supreme? King's Blood is a fast-paced multi-player card game. Build the family tree by arranging marriages, exiling rivals, and crowning new royalty. Match a character with a compatible member of the opposite sex, and start a new generation. Play the last family member from your hand, and you've won! King's Blood was originally published by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan, where it remains a fan favorite. Steve Jackson Games is proud to offer the authorized English translation of this fast, fun game, complete with all the beautiful original manga artwork. 90 cards in a tuck box.
King's Blood 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 King's Blood 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 King's Blood 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.
King's Blood has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
King's Blood belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Open Drafting. 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's Blood are: Hitoshi Yasuda and Tadaaki Kawahito. 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's Blood 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.