I do appreciate a game that is well thought out. Make it visually pleasing and design the insert well and I’ll be happy before the game has even begun. Combine this with a rulebook that has clearly seen playtesting and a game that your friends enjoy and are laughing about once done, and you have a winner. You have Fall of Kingdoms.
First impressions – a love of details
I’m not naturally drawn to competitive games, but I have friends that are and I liked that this game serves 7 people, providing another option for larger crowds. With mediocre hopes, I unboxed. I was very pleasantly surprised.
The details that creator, Zachary Chu, has included in the box design delighted me from the moment I lifted the lid. The thoughtful layout is not only satisfying with components sitting just right, but provides space for expansions, which is a refreshing and potentially environmentally-friendly deviation from other games. The boards have beautiful artwork, and the text on the reverse had us all chuckling. The artwork continues on the cards, and where characters types are duplicated, their appearances are each unique, which is yet another lovely detail. I was initially disappointed by the coins, as in my minds’ eye they had been metal. Perhaps I had missed an upgrade. This was a short-lived concern as I picked up the coins. Satisfyingly weighty and clanking just right, I was happy once again. My only annoyance was that the perspex counters still had their backing paper strongly adhered to them, but I gradually removed that whilst delighting in watching a friend go through the same unboxing experience and being just as impressed as I.
The Prophets. All unique. All powerful
Gameplay
Fall of Kingdoms is a game of bluff and strategy, where the last kingdom standing wins. Lose your defences or lose your people, and your kingdom has fallen. Boasting a 20-40 minute play time, this isn’t particularly heavy, and felt like a good option when one of our players was encountering nothing but new games that day.
Setup and overview
Armed with a kingdom board, three coins, two Destiny cards, a couple of perspex counters – one for morale and another for defence – and your people, player setup is quick. Discard a few characters from the deck – using the handy reference grid in the instructions – and place them face up on the table in the ‘Valley of Ashes’. All spare characters go in the House pile facedown, for future swapping and misdirection.
Two coins already spent. Play is underway!
There are four of each of the six character types in total, and the dead are added face-up to the Valley of Ashes during play, providing potential clues. Similar to Masquerade, players can use their character abilities or bluff those of others. Penalties are steep for being caught or for wrongful accusations of lying, so play wisely! Alternatively, you could just accumulate money or keep buying Destiny cards quietly in the corner and hope that group paranoia doesn’t result in you being eliminated.
Turn options
On your turn, you collect a number of coins matching your morale level. Then, you have a single action. It is decision time.
You have two active characters in play, with another one or two – depending on player count – face down beneath your board for replenishment in the event of active character death. You can pay the cost to use an active character ability or one from another character, if you are brave enough to bluff. Character abilities can impact morale or city defences, or manipulate, kill, or provide insight about other characters. Many can be blocked by other characters, and claiming to be able to block can itself be a bluff. Each claim potentially reveals information about which characters you have, and if believed might influence other players’ strategies. As characters dwindle, the wrong bluff could result in accidental suicide.
Destiny cards – the difference between victory and defeat!
Or you could choose to reveal no additional character information on your turn. Destiny cards – you are limited to four in your hand – can be the difference between victory and defeat, but are expensive and difficult to afford if your morale is low. Collecting a coin instead of acting is an alternative option if you are on the poorer side, or saving for something big. Just remember the ten-coin limit. Or you could spend coins on attacking a player’s defences, or on guessing a character card to eliminate them. Again, be sure of your accusation. Fearful that they might be on to you, or wanting to cause some uncertainty? Pay to select two new cards from the House, and switch with one or two from your hand. Or fake the switch. Your call.
Oh, and negotiation is an optional tactic. Form alliances – even for a round – and hope that your ally doesn’t betray you, or that your decision doesn’t make you a target for somebody else. Good luck with that.
Rulebook and player aides
The rulebook is short and clearly laid out, with most questions easily answered. I expect some niche character questions to arise on online fora, but there was little we could not answer. I was particularly impressed to see specific Puppeteer-related questions, which left unaddressed could break the game.
The double-sided player aides list turn actions and provide a handy guide to all characters. Listing what characters counter is helpful, although some in my group felt that listing who counters that character would have also been useful. Adding the bluff consequences at the bottom of the aide was a smart choice, although the text could have been bigger as this information is easily missed.
Rulebook and player aides
Does Fall of Kingdoms get my vote?
Full of strategy, cunning, and laughs, my first play of Fall of Kingdoms was an enjoyable occasion, providing me with confidence that this will be a welcome option on future game nights. For the visual and tactile, it is a delight, and for the strategists it provides a plethora of options. Simple to learn with room to master, Fall of Kingdoms is an interesting and well thought-out game. I look forward to the expansions.
