
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,613
- BGG rating
- 7.2
AFFLICTION: Salem 1692
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2017

2021
Rules assistance for Madoshi
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Madoshi is a board game released in 2021 for 1–2 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Dan Hundycz and its main mechanics are Matching and Pattern Recognition.
The land itself—the rocks, trees, mountains, and rivers—are infused with latent magical energy. This energy needs only a focus to give it life. The Sun and the moon struggle with each other to give the Mononoke life. The sun rises and grows in power, while her influence is strong her priests manipulate the elements of nature to lure Yokai to do her bidding. As the day grows long, she weakens and soon sees that she is not alone. Surging with the darkness is the Moon, who also has plans to use the spirits and ghosts on this plane. The battle will rage on. As the priests of the sun and moon pivot for advantage. A 1 or 2 player ½ hour game where you will assume the role of priests of the Sun and the Moon taking turns to capture Yokai. Play occurs on a 5x5 grid with players swapping one token to create a pattern of elements matching that on the available Yokai cards. More power is gained with matches in the source element. After capture, there is a release of magical energy and the field of battle will change as a result. Voids are created, wild magic appears, or the universe could shift. Three levels of Yokai cards are placed next to the game board, and when one of the decks has been depleted, the game ends. Most points wins.
Madoshi supports 1–2 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 Madoshi is 15–30 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 Madoshi for ages 13 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.
Madoshi has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Madoshi belongs to these categories: Puzzle. Its main mechanics are Matching and Pattern Recognition. 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 Madoshi are: Dan Hundycz. 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 Madoshi 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.