- BGG rating
- 7.4
Shadow Hunters: Expansion
- 4–8 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,378
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Shadow Hunters
2005
Rules assistance for Shadow Hunters
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4–8 players
- 60 min
- 13+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 4 players
Rules assistant for Shadow Hunters
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Shadow Hunters is a board game released in 2005 for 4–8 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Yasutaka Ikeda and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Player Elimination, and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Shadow Hunters is a survival board game set in a devil-filled forest in which three groups of characters—the Shadows, creatures of the night; the Hunters, humans who try to destroy supernatural creatures; and the Neutrals, civilians caught in the middle of this ancient battle—struggle against each other to survive. You belong to one of these groups and must conceal your identity from others since you don't know whom you can trust—at least not initially. Over time, though, someone might decipher who you are through your actions or through Hermit cards, or you might even reveal yourself to use your special ability. The key to victory is to identify your allies and enemies early because once your identity is revealed, your enemies will attack with impunity using their special abilities like Demolish, Teleport, and Suck Blood or their equipment cards such as the Rusty Broad Ax or Fortune Brooch. This ancient battle comes to a head and only one group will stand victorious—or a civilian, in the right circumstances, might claim victory. The 2011 edition of Shadow Hunters from Z-Man Games includes the Shadow Hunters: Expansion, a set of ten new characters previously sold separately.
Designers
Publishers
- Kaissa Chess & Games
- Matagot
- Giochi Uniti
- KOSMOS
- MINDOK
- cosaic
- Z-Man Games
- Game Republic, Inc.
Questions and answers
Shadow Hunters supports 4–8 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 Shadow Hunters 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 Shadow Hunters 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.
Shadow Hunters has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Shadow Hunters belongs to these categories: Card Game, Party Game, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Player Elimination, and Dice Rolling. 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 Shadow Hunters are: Yasutaka Ikeda. 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 Shadow Hunters 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.