
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,959
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Shahrazad
2015
Rules assistance for Shahrazad
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 10 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 1 player

Rules assistant for Shahrazad
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Shahrazad is a board game released in 2015 for 1–2 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by ゆお (Yuo) and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Cooperative Game, and Pattern Building.
About the game
User summary: タロットストーリア (Tarot Storia) is a game for one player playing solitaire or for two players playing co-operatively. The game is published in a Japanese / English edition. In the game, the player starts with one hand card, then draws a second. From these two, they play a card to the tableau. Cards are played touching, in columns left or right but shifted halfway up or down. In the one-player game, a column is restricted to 4 cards, in the two player, the limit is 3 cards. Alternately, you may exchange a played card with a hand card. But next turn, after drawing, you must play down two cards so your hand is back down to one before drawing. Once all the cards are played, cards are turned face-down if any card on its right is of a lower number. Then the player tries to find paths in the tableau from the far left to the far right side. Think of this as telling the story. Any cards that are not part of a valid path are also turned down. Now you score for colour groups, and deduct points for face-down cards and gaps in the tableau. After keeping a column, shuffle the deck over and play a second round to get your final score and the King's opinion! For two players, it's the same--with both players working a hand of two cards each. You cannot consult about which card to play, but after choosing, you may confer about placing. The final score this time reflects a test of your friendship. Publisher's summary: "You shall be rewarded if your tale amuses me." The eccentric king issued the edict to all over the country. You are a bard who is willing to take up that challenge. You have to make up a tale by mixing stories in the world and enchant the king with the tale. With 22 beautifully illustrated tarot cards with four background colours, this card game demands you make a succession of tough decisions. You will be excited to see how the storyline barely keeps consistency. Basically, you play a card from two cards in your hand each turn. When you have played all cards, the first round ends and you score according to the card positions. With some of these cards remaining in play, the game proceeds to the second round in the same way. The total of two rounds is your final score. Publisher's summary: 「わしを満足させる話が出来た者には褒美を取らせる」 変わり者の王様は国中にお触れを出しました。あなたはそれを聞きつけた名うての吟遊詩人。古今東西のお伽話をうまく繋いで、王様を魅了しましょう。 タロットカード(大アルカナ)の構成をそのままに、色の要素を取り入れることで選択が悩ましいカードゲームへ進化させました。お話がギリギリで繋がる綱渡りの連続にあなたは興奮を覚えることでしょう。 基本的なゲームの流れは2枚の手札の内、どちらを場に出すのか、の繰り返しです。カードを全て出しきった時にラウンドが終わり、配置に対し得点が出ます。1周目の配置を一部引き継ぎ、2周目が始まります。計2周した総得点があなたのスコアとなります。
Designers
Publishers
- Osprey Games
- こっち屋 (Kocchiya)
- Capsicum Games
Questions and answers
Shahrazad supports 1–2 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 Shahrazad is 10 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 Shahrazad for ages 8 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.
Shahrazad has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Shahrazad belongs to these categories: Card Game and Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Cooperative Game, and Pattern Building. 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 Shahrazad are: ゆお (Yuo). 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 Shahrazad 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.