- BGG rank
- BGG #21,461
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Cat & Mouse
- 2 players
- 2 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1985
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,698
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Samurai
1975
Rules assistance for Samurai
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Samurai
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Samurai is a board game released in 1975 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Henri Sala.
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About the game
Abstract strategy game with Japanese warrior chrome (pieces shaped like samurai warriors). This page currently lists two very different games which share a common origin. Both versions share the rule that the symbol upon which your opponent's piece ends is the symbol over which your piece must first pass but they greatly differ in win condition and so in the means to achieve that end. The French and Dutch versions of the game have a 11 x 11 square board and a player loses the game when unable to make a legal move. There is no combat. The English version has just 69 spaces (a 9 x 9 grid but missing the three squares from each corner of the board). The samurai figures have removable swords. They engage in combat and when losing combat they first lose their swords then are removed from the board. The first player to lose three samurai loses the game.
Questions and answers
Samurai supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Samurai 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 Samurai 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.
Samurai has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Samurai belongs to these categories: Fighting and Abstract Strategy. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Samurai and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Samurai are: Henri Sala. 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 Samurai 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.