
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,469
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Siege
- 2–6 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1983

1984
Rules assistance for Samurai Blades: The Game of Man-to-Man Combat in Feudal Japan
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Samurai Blades: The Game of Man-to-Man Combat in Feudal Japan is a board game released in 1984 for 2–6 players, 240 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Alan Paull and Peter O'Toole and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Modular Board.
Samurai Blades is both a self-standing game and a companion for Siege and Cry Havoc. On its own Samurai Blades has five different scenarios. There is a further scenario for use with Cry Havoc. Rules for using the system for competitions are included at the end of the Scenario Booklet. Part of the Cry Havoc series.
Samurai Blades: The Game of Man-to-Man Combat in Feudal Japan supports 2–6 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 Samurai Blades: The Game of Man-to-Man Combat in Feudal Japan is 240 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 Blades: The Game of Man-to-Man Combat in Feudal Japan for ages 14 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 Blades: The Game of Man-to-Man Combat in Feudal Japan 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.
Samurai Blades: The Game of Man-to-Man Combat in Feudal Japan belongs to these categories: Wargame and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Modular Board. 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 Samurai Blades: The Game of Man-to-Man Combat in Feudal Japan are: Alan Paull and Peter O'Toole. 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 Blades: The Game of Man-to-Man Combat in Feudal Japan 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.