- BGG rating
- 5.0
Story War Deluxe
- 3–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,163
- BGG rating
- 5.0
Story War
2013
Rules assistance for Story War
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–8 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.4/5
Rules assistant for Story War
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Story War is a board game released in 2013 for 3–8 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Tom McLean and Brad O'Farrell and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Storytelling.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 5.2
Super Story War
- 3–8 players
- 20 min
- 2014
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #65
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood
- 1–4 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,379
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Snake Oil
- 3–10 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,583
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Once Upon a Time: The Storytelling Card Game
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 1993
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,119
- BGG rating
- 7.3
BARPIG: After Hours
- 3–7 players
- 30–75 min
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,031
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Shindig Machine
- 3–8 players
- 5 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,249
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Roots: A Game of Inventing Words
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,186
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Conspiracy Theory
- 3–99 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,578
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Youtopia: The World of Imagination
- 3–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,192
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Bad Brood
- 3–6 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,371
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Trust Me, I'm a Doctor
- 3–8 players
- 15–60 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,459
- BGG rating
- 5.5
I Would Fight The Dragon...
- 3–8 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,419
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Histórias de Pescador
- 2–7 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2019
About the game
It’s a card game for 3-to-8 players that combines storytelling and combat! It’s more about creativity and alluding to pop culture (or just regular culture) than it is about math or numbers. It takes about 30 minutes to play a full game, even with an 8 person game. Players choose a Warrior card (like Medusa or Puss In Boots) from their hand to represent them in battle, then multiple players must work together as a team to defeat the players on the other side of the table. They also use Item cards (like Excalibur or Flying Carpet) to get them out of a tight spot and turn the battle around! Each battle is also set on a Battlefield (like Beanstalk or Sleepy Village) and players can use the terrain to their advantage. The actual battle is conducted by players describing their character's action to the judge, who has final ruling on all matters. If it convinces the judge, it's fair game! After each battle, the role of the judge passes to the player on the current judge's left.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Cantrip Games
Questions and answers
Story War supports 3–8 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 Story War is 30 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 Story War 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.
Story War 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.
Story War belongs to these categories: Card Game, Party Game, and Mythology. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Storytelling. 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 Story War are: Tom McLean and Brad O'Farrell. 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 Story War 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.