
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,909
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Rum & Bones: Second Tide
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2017

2015
Rules assistance for KUMO Hogosha
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
KUMO Hogosha is a board game released in 2015 for 2–4 players, 25–30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Patrick Gere and Nico Pirard and its main mechanics are Grid Movement, Action Points, and Action Queue.
A long time ago, the gods decided to pass Earth down to Mankind and retreated to live in the Heavens. They erected the Cloud Temple, a symbolic border between the two worlds and home to the Stone of Balance. As the sun shone from the Heavens and the Earth blossomed, the gods decided to open the gates of the Temple to only the most skilled people, allowing them to compete to become Kumo Hogosha, Guardians of the Clouds. Throughout the centuries, valiant warriors – the Kumotori – fought against each other in the Rotating Arena of the Four Winds where the renowned Stone of Balance resides. Each year, a prestigious tournament is held in which a single winner is elevated to the rank of Kumo Hogosha, a demigod amongst men. The challengers for this title compete in a duel that combines strength and strategy to demonstrate their skill in a myriad of fighting techniques. Today it is your turn to continue writing the legend and face these legendary warriors. Climb into the Arena, master its ever-changing environment, and bring the Stone of Balance into your opponent’s camp to become a Kumo Hogosha! To become a Kumo Hogosha, you have to move the Stone of Balance outside the Rotating Arena, into your opponent's camp. The player who first succeeds wins. Possible actions that players can take are: Grabbing: The active Kumotori can grab and move another Kumotori (opponent or ally) one tile vertically or horizontally. Throwing: The active Kumotori can throw another Kumotori (opponent or ally) one tile vertically or horizontally. Running: The active Kumotori can move from his original position to neighboring tiles either vertically or horizontally. Jumping: The active Kumotori can jump over one or more neighboring Kumotori (not diagonally) and/or the Stone of Balance to arrive at the next free tile. Blocking: The active Kumotori can sit on top of a neighboring (not diagonally placed) opponent to block him. You cannot block a Kumotori who is on any of the eight tiles surrounding the Stone of Balance. In the next round, the active blocking player will perform an action to unblock the opponent Kumotori, and move to a neighboring tile (not diagonally). Kumo: Kumo is the only action that moves the Stone of Balance. With this action you can move only 1 tile. To move the Stone of Balance you must have two Kumotori with the Kumo drawing face up next to each other, and next to the Stone of Balance.
KUMO Hogosha 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 KUMO Hogosha is 25–30 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 KUMO Hogosha 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.
KUMO Hogosha has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
KUMO Hogosha belongs to these categories: Fighting and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement, Action Points, and Action Queue. 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 KUMO Hogosha are: Patrick Gere and Nico Pirard. 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 KUMO Hogosha 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.