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忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō)
2023
Rules assistance for 忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 20–40 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for 忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō) is a board game released in 2023 for 3–5 players, 20–40 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Emi Kuji and its main mechanics are Ladder Climbing.
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About the game
Shinobu no Gakkō, roughly, Shinobu School, is a climbing game where each player has two hands of cards and is adding and removing cards from a central tableau. Players are dealt a hand of cards, and then divide, as they'd like between a closed hand they hold traditionally, and a face up hand on the table. Two cards are dealt face up to the table that form the initial cards the players will add or subtract from. Players can play higher or lower cards than are currently on the table, and play them to that end of the column. Players must play at least the same number of cards as what is present at that end, but could play more. If one end of the column has more cards than the other, that end is "locked" and cards cannot be removed or added. As an alternate to playing, players can remove the last cards from either end of the column. Each turn players get to take one of these actions (or pass) with both of their hands. The first player to play all of their cards wins the round and is granted points; the other players lose points depending upon the sets left in their hands. The person with the most points after a number of rounds wins.
Questions and answers
忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō) 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 忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō) is 20–40 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 忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō) for ages 10 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.
忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō) has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō) belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Ladder Climbing. 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 忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō) are: Emi Kuji. 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 忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō) 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.