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Rise of the Kage
2015
Rules assistance for Rise of the Kage
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 13+
- Complexity 3.2/5
Rules assistant for Rise of the Kage
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Rise of the Kage is a board game released in 2015 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Gordon Cunningham and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Modular Board, and Team-Based Game.
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About the game
In a game of Rise of the Kage, 2-4 players can choose to play as the ninja of the shadow wind clan; deadly warriors tasked with a variety of missions all ultimately focused upon taking down the Takashi clan, the Jwar Isles' ruling family. Or you can choose those that have sworn their lives to protect their Daimyo; the brave guards of the Prefecture of Ryu. The ninjas play cooperatively discovering weapons from shuriken to poisoned rice, dispatching guards as they seek to complete their goals. The guard boss player employs all the resources at hand to bring their deadly foe to a halt. If they can hold them off until sunrise or raise the alarm then all will be safe for another night. Ninja or guards, players face difficult decisions. Do the ninja recklessly force their way through their opponents whilst undoubtedly raising the alarm level, go too slowly and stealthily though and they face losing the advantage that night brings, dawn ultimately bringing an unreckonable force down upon them. Do the guards throw themselves in the way of their more deadly rivals or strategically attempt to slow them down? Rise of the Kage offers a great blend of sneaky skills and gobsmacking kills.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- GCT Studios
Questions and answers
Rise of the Kage 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 Rise of the Kage is 60 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 Rise of the Kage 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.
Rise of the Kage 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.
Rise of the Kage belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Modular Board, and Team-Based Game. 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 Rise of the Kage are: Gordon Cunningham. 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 Rise of the Kage 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.