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- BGG #2,293
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Hidden Leaders
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Shinobi Clans
2013
Rules assistance for Shinobi Clans
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 60 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.1/5
Rules assistant for Shinobi Clans
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Shinobi Clans is a board game released in 2013 for 3–5 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Jürgen Mayer and its main mechanics are Secret Unit Deployment and Open Drafting.
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About the game
As a ruthless and cunning shinobi clan master, you lead your team of ninjas on secret missions that decide between life and death for dangerous ronin, noble daimyos and powerful shoguns. Recruit the most skilled assassins, arm them with the deadliest weapons, and devise plans that will outwit your rivals on your way to becoming the most feared and prosperous ninja clan of them all! Shinobi Clans is a strategic card game for 3-5 players. As ninja clan leaders, players must master all facets of ninja warfare: Secretly select missions on targets that promise the biggest rewards with the least opposition. Muster the most suitable ninjas and weapons by card drafting. Position them tactically through a card stack mechanism that can disrupt your enemy's plans. Use secret unit deployment to your advantage and hope the other clans' spies don't uncover your strategy... Until the final reveal, your clan's actions and motivations are shrouded in mystery. Can you throw the other clans off your trail while getting the job done? When the smoke clears, your schemes, ambition, and skill will be evident – but will they prevail?
Editions
- Shinobi ClansenPosthuman Studios2014
- Shinobi ClansenPosthuman Studios2013
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Posthuman Studios
Questions and answers
Shinobi Clans supports 3–5 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 Shinobi Clans 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 Shinobi Clans 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.
Shinobi Clans has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Shinobi Clans belongs to these categories: Card Game and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Secret Unit Deployment and Open Drafting. 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 Shinobi Clans are: Jürgen Mayer. 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 Shinobi Clans 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.