- BGG rank
- BGG #11,058
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Tara: Ireland's Royal Board Game
- 2 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,889
- BGG rating
- 6.3
The High Kings of Tara
1998
Rules assistance for The High Kings of Tara
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.9/5
Rules assistant for The High Kings of Tara
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The High Kings of Tara is a board game released in 1998 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Murray Heasman and its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Pattern Building, and Pattern Recognition.
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About the game
Players take turns moving their kings around a playing field of hills. The kings movement is like a knight in chess. During the opening, hills are claimed, but you can't claim 2 hills that are adjacent. In the midgame, knots are formed and merged together forming contiguous chains of hill ownership. The player with the *fewest* knots wins the game. A 4 player partnership is included with the rules of the game. Tara: Ireland's Royal Board Game is a revamped version of this game.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- ABACUSSPIELE
- Tailten Games
- Real Original Games
Questions and answers
The High Kings of Tara supports 2–4 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 The High Kings of Tara 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 The High Kings of Tara 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.
The High Kings of Tara has a complexity rating of 1.9 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.
The High Kings of Tara belongs to these categories: Territory Building and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Pattern Building, and Pattern Recognition. 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 The High Kings of Tara are: Murray Heasman. 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 The High Kings of Tara 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.