
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,953
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Hokkaido
- 2–5 players
- 30–40 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2018

2025
Rules assistance for Kyūshū
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.
Kyūshū is a board game released in 2025 for 2–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Kalle Malmioja and its main mechanics are Hand Management, End Game Bonuses, and Layering.
Kyūshū is a card selection and map building card game set in feudal Japan. It is the third installment in the Nippon-series, preceded by Honshu and Hokkaido, and released simultaneously with Shikoku. Take a tour around the four main islands of feudal Japan during different seasons. With Kyūshū the journey continues southwards. It’s summer, and lush greenery blankets the terrain, making it even more beautiful. It’s time to relax, visit the natural hot springs, and enjoy the company. Each game in the Nippon series consists of two main phases. In the first phase, you select a card that you will later add to your personal map during the second phase. The card selection mechanism differs in each game, and the mechanisms can be used interchangeably across the series. The map cards, scoring options, and optional scoring cards also vary from game to game, ensuring a fresh combination of challenges with every play. In Kyūshū's selection phase players will have a Map card in front of them, in what's called their "pick box". Players take turns selecting a Map card from a player's pick box by choosing one of four options. You may take the card in your own pick box by replacing it with any card, but the card number might prove to be a challenge if you wish to take a card from another player's pick box. Discarding a resource will enable you to take any of the cards. The card you choose must be replaced with a card from your hand. Kyūshū also introduces a new terrain type - Hot Spring. Hot Springs have their own unique method of scoring, and a new optional rule enables you to send your travelers to visit and enjoy the Hot Springs of other players for extra victory points. Another new optional rule introduces most/fewest scoring cards, where you will compete with the players on your left and right to meet the criteria of the scoring card between you. —description from the publisher
Kyūshū supports 2–5 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 Kyūshū 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 Kyūshū for ages 10 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.
Kyūshū belongs to these categories: Card Game, Territory Building, and City Building. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, End Game Bonuses, and Layering. 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 Kyūshū are: Kalle Malmioja. 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 Kyūshū 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.