- BGG rank
- BGG #2,199
- BGG rating
- 7.1
The King Is Dead
- 2–4 players
- 30–50 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #374
- BGG rating
- 7.6
The King Is Dead: Second Edition
2020
Rules assistance for The King Is Dead: Second Edition
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The King Is Dead: Second Edition
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The King Is Dead: Second Edition is a board game released in 2020 for 2–4 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Peer Sylvester and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Variable Set-up.
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About the game
The King is dead. The kingdom is divided. Three factions — the Scottish, the Welsh, and the English — vie for control and, across the sea, foreign invaders prepare to take advantage of the chaos. Players must marshal their limited resources to influence this power struggle, while ensuring that the faction that rises to dominate the realm favors them above all other claimants to the throne. The King is Dead: Second Edition refreshes the accessible yet strikingly deep game with updated graphic design, gorgeous new artwork, and a brand-new asymmetric game mode for advanced play.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- YOKA Games
- Origames
- Osprey Games
- Playte
- Studio Supernova
- Doit Games
- MEBO Games
- Giant Roc
- Fox in the Box
- Ogry Games
Questions and answers
The King Is Dead: Second Edition 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 King Is Dead: Second Edition is 30–45 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 King Is Dead: Second Edition for ages 14 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 King Is Dead: Second Edition has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
The King Is Dead: Second Edition belongs to these categories: Wargame, Medieval, and Political. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Variable Set-up. 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 King Is Dead: Second Edition are: Peer Sylvester. 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 King Is Dead: Second Edition 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.