Asian Board Games

The countries of Asia, particularly China, Korea, and Japan, have a rich tradition of board games. Their heritage is especially rich with abstract board games, where ancient games such as "Go", "Shogi", and "Xiangqi" are treasured for their beauty and strategic depth. "Mah Jongg" is another Asian favorite, played by all ages as a social family game.

Featured Asian Board Games

• Chang Cheng
  Travel back in time to the Qin dynasty, when the Chang Cheng (long wall) was under construction, in the attempt to unify the provinces and protect them from the "Marauders of the North". Your mission is to build parts of the wall while simultaneously contending with other players to protect the wealthiest provinces. For every province that becomes protected by a player, he or she will collect a reputation point. The idea is to strategically place a fortified wall that will keep the Mongols from taking your points at the end of the game. You will use a combination of double-sided board maps, action cards, event cards, reputation counters, threat counters, and wall blocks to play this game. The person with the most reputation points after the final phase, when the Mongol attack occurs and negative points are thereby distributed, wins the game! The components are a nice quality with well done graphics and even the rule book is evocative of the antiquated paper style.
  
• Dao
  Simple to the eye, but perhaps a lifetime in mastering, Dao is a pure game of strategy that plays out with opposing sets of four pieces on a 4 X 4 playing square. At each turn, move any one piece in any direction of your choosing -- vertically, horizontally, or diagonally -- as far as you can go until you reach the end of a playing square or another play piece. Win by arranging your pieces in a vertical or horizontal line, by occupying a 2 x 2 square, by occupying all four corners, or by becoming trapped in any one corner by three of your opponent's pieces. This elegant, endlessly challenging game is great for all ages 8 and up, and includes game mat, 8 play pieces and drawstring sack, instructions, storage tube, and game tin.
  
• Gang of Four
  Gang of Four is an exciting game of cunning, strategy and power! Originating in the gambling backstreets of Hong Kong, Gang of Four is the most popular card game to emerge from Asia in decades. Filled with an endless variety of strategies and tactics, Gang of Four is fun, entertaining and full of surprises, yet is simple to learn and play. The game's premise is simple - be the first to rid yourself of all your cards and ascend to supreme power. But beware - a strategic misstep may find you in a struggle to survive. Gang of Four is terrific fun for adults and children and is a highly addictive card game for your family or friends.
  
• Golden Deuce
  Based on the ancient Chinese game of Choi Dai Di (similar to Pusoy Dos in the Philippines), the classic trick-taking climbing game that requires cunning wit and strategy, Golden Deuce steps up the game by changing the odds with a unique 60 card deck, while providing board game action for a new twist on this addictive strategy game. The fun starts with a round of the Golden Deuce card game - lay down higher tricks than the other players for control of the lead. Be the first player to lay down all the cards in your hand, and you gain points for all the cards left in the other players' hands. Don't be stuck with too many cards, or you'll end up paying out points to every other player. The strategy doesn't stop at the end of the card game. Moving to the game board, each player strategically moves any of their pawns the number of spaces to match the points earned in the card game round. But beware! Moving too many pawns too quickly may leave you unable to collect the points you deserve. Once all players have moved, it's time for another card game round, and the fun starts again. With special spaces to send you back, move you forward, or "warp" your pawn to another space on the board, it's a race to the finish to win the game!
  
• Ikusa
  Sweep across the land and secure your empire in Ikusa! It is the sixteenth century in feudal Japan, where war rages across the land. Amid the chaos and conflict, you have risen to power as one of five warlords mighty enough to conquer and control the whole empire. Your victory depends on how expertly you extend your domain while defending it from your enemies. Send your daimyo leaders, samurai, and ashigaru warriors into battle to seize new provinces and lay siege to castles. Spend your hard-won treasury on building fortifications and bolstering your forces with ronin and ninja.Prove the strength of your strategy, defeat your rivals, and earn the exalted title of Shogun!
• In the Year of the Dragon
  Taking on the role of a Chinese prince, In the Year of the Dragon challenges players to build up the wealth and illustriousness of his province of China in 1,000 A.D. In this elegant game, princes must seek the aid and specific talents of their courtiers that range from scholars and monks to warriors and craftsmen to head off plague, famine, and other impending disasters. Played during the course of a year, planning and preparation is paramount to fend off each month's round of adversity. And who knows when the Mongols might decide to invade your province? Each prince must use his resources and insight as best he can to protect his loyal subjects. The player that can best foresee and withstand the seemingly endless onslaught of calamities will gain more honor and victory points necessary to make it all the way through to the end In the Year of the Dragon.
  
• Samurai
  An award-winning game from Reiner Knizia. To win this game, players must skillfully position their forces to gain the majority surrounding the cities and village to capture the figures. There are three Samurai forces: peasants, clergy and nobility. The way to power leads through these three: peasants, represented by rice fields, clergy, represented by Buddhas and nobility, represented by high helmets. To become a Samurai, one has to be supported by one of these forces and have strong connections to the other two. Each player has an identical force and they deploy their forces to the spaces around the power figures. When a figure is surrounded, it is captured by the player with the strongest sympathetic force. To win, a player must gain dominance in one of the powers while getting better support from the other powers than the other players.
  
• Shogun
  As warlords in 16th-century Japan, the players attempt to secure a position of dominance for their respective clans. The most successful Daimyo at the end of the game will become shogun. To succeed, a player will need not only to control as many provinces as possible, but also to develop his realm by building castles, temples, and theaters. The player who manages to build the most buildings in each of the 5 regions will be rewarded with valuable bonus points.
  
• Sudoku Sensations
  The Sudoku Sensations Game is an exciting new variation on the addictive Japanese puzzle phenomenon that has conquered Japan, the UK, and Australia and has now made its way to the US! Players complete a partially filled number grid so that each column, row and square includes the numbers 1 to 9 - but only once each! Challenge yourself with six levels to master and two different styles of play, or battle your friends and family in a speed or points contest!
  
• Tayu
  This strategy game was inspired from a celebrated Chinese hero who engineered a series of waterways, thus saving his nation from flooding. Now you must form as many waterways as possible from one side of the board to the next. Your opponent(s) will strive to do the same, while simultaneously diverting yours, thus sabotaging your best laid plans. The player who completes the most channels to his/her side of the board, wins!
  
• Tsuro
  In Tsuro, build your own path without your opponents steering you in the wrong direction - or off the board! Tsuro is the quick-playing game in which directions can change as easily as the game plays. The rules are simple - you place your stones, select your tiles, and attempt to build a safe path for your journey. The Paths of other players cross and connect, so the choices you make affect all the journeys across the board. Stay on the right path - your journey begins here!
  
• Kung Fu Samurai on Giant Robot Island
  What do you get when you mix Kung Fu, Samurai, Giant Monster, and Anime flicks? A movie with incomprehensible diaglogue, unreadable subtitles, and this, the latest B-movie card game from the producer and director of Grave Robbers From Outer Space and Cannibal Pygmies (in the Jungle of Doom).
  
• Wasabi!
  In Wasabi!, players are apprentices to a great sushi master, and have spent the last ten years honing your skills in preparation for this day - your final test before earning the title of expert chef: Itamae-San! Drawing upon a variety of delicious ingredients played out in their hand and those previously placed on the board by your opponents, players compete to assemble their quota of unique sushi recipes in a rapidly dwindling space, while completing a recipe with style will earn you bonus points!