Barbarian Kingdoms is a strategic board game set in the 5th century AD, a period of chaos immediately following the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Players each choose a kingdom and engage in a bitter struggle for power. Below, you can learn more about the gameplay experience, components, and replayability of this historically inspired game.
Rating:
| Overall | 8 |
| Story | 8 |
| Game system | 9 |
| Disign & Artwork | 8 |
| Replayability | 8 |
The Story
Barbarian Kingdoms takes place in the 5th century AD. The invasion of the Huns in Europe sparks wars and plundering, ultimately leading to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. With the advance of the Germanic tribes, the so-called “barbarian kingdoms,” they set foot on Western European soil. The relentless struggle to become the sole ruler of Western Europe begins.
A game full of strategic choices: strengthen your troops? Or move them instead? Is it better to collect some resources now or claim a territory? Ruthless battles await, so recklessness is not advised. Every decision brings you closer to one goal: conquer 7 territories or defeat 2 kings.
Keep in mind: Each king has their own special powers, so choose wisely when deciding which people you will play as…
Weet wel:
elke koning heeft zijn eigen speciale krachten, dus kies wijs wan
neer je beslist met welk volk je zal spelen..
Game Rules
Each turn consists of one action, which you may choose from five possible actions:
• Recruit a new soldier: The cost you must pay is listed under the character. You must place this soldier in a territory you control. The number of coins you pay is placed openly on the board.
• Move: You may move one or more of your soldiers and your king. Use this to position your troops in the most strategic locations.
• Invasion: You may move one soldier into a territory that is not yours, adjacent to the tile you occupy. Opponents can decide whether to allow this or not. If they do not agree, they will move a soldier onto that tile, triggering a battle. If you win, you can claim the coins on that tile and take a step closer to potentially claiming the territory.
•Attempt to claim a territory: To claim a territory, you must first purchase a control token from your player board. Other players can again choose to oppose you, forcing a battle. If you win and place your control token, you have conquered a new area. Onwards to domination!
•Collect taxes: Spend your turn collecting taxes from territories under your control. These revenues are added to your treasury.
Components and Desing
The components are of high quality, with beautiful and highly detailed printing, especially on the game board. The rules are very clear and well-illustrated in the rulebook. At the back of the rulebook, you’ll also find a QR code linking to a video tutorial, which is extremely helpful (also found in other Ares Games titles). This is a great added value.
Box Contents
• 1x game board
• 1x rulebook (ENG
• 1x rulebook (FR)
• 1x setup card
• 2x black cloth bags
• 72x treasure tokens (30x bronze, 24x silver, 17x gold, 1x diamond)
• 1x score pad
• 6x kingdom sets, each consisting of:
● 1x king
● 1x special power card
● 4x soldiers
● 4x controle tokens
● 1x player board
● 1x player screen
Conclusion
Barbarian Kingdoms is a short but strategic game, ideal for putting a strategy board game on the table that challenges your brain without requiring hours of play. The game is primarily designed for 3 to 6 players, but a 2-player variant is also included in the rulebook.
A major advantage is that the game can be played with multiple players, either individually or in teams. This makes it a great choice for introducing newcomers to the world of board games.
It is also perfect for getting younger players involved with a supportive adult on the team. Thanks to the wide range of player combinations, this game offers high replayability.
More information: www.aresgames.eu/games/euro-games/barbarian-kingdoms
Text: Esmeralda Wolf
