- BGG rank
- BGG #4,931
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Inheritors
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,107
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Samurai Vassal
2018
Rules assistance for Samurai Vassal
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.4/5
Rules assistant for Samurai Vassal
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Samurai Vassal is a board game released in 2018 for 2–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jeffrey CCH, Kenneth YWN, and Kevin TKW and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
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About the game
In the era of endless war, whose blade earns the ultimate trust? During Japan’s Sengoku period, authority shattered and war never ceased. Daimyo rose and fell as rival warlords fought for power. In this age of turmoil, trust outweighed steel, and only those who mastered loyalty, alliances, and deception could rise above the rest. Samurai Vassal is a fast-paced, simultaneous action card game for 2–6 players where each of you takes on the role of a samurai vying for your daimyo’s favor. Propose policies, negotiate alliances, and scheme in the shadows to be the first to earn the daimyo’s trust or betray your comrades at the perfect moment to claim victory for yourself. The shogunate has fallen, leaving Japan divided among rival daimyos. As a samurai vassal, victory lies not in battle alone, but in political mastery. —description from the publisher
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Ice Makes
Questions and answers
Samurai Vassal 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 Vassal is 20 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 Vassal for ages 12 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 Vassal has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
Samurai Vassal belongs to these categories: Card Game and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Vassal are: Jeffrey CCH, Kenneth YWN, and Kevin TKW. 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 Vassal 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.