Joraku

A Sengoku Japan card game of tricks and area control where daimyo march on Kyoto.

Designer: Iori Tsukinami (月並いおり)
Published by: Moaideas Game Design
Editions by: Tasty Minstrel Games, Delirium Games, Nuts! Publishing, 4GAMES, Dice&Bones

Joraku is the old Japanese word for going to Kyoto. In the Sengoku period it meant daimyo marching their armies on the capital to protect the shogun and emperor, and, ideally, to rule in their place. You are one of those lords in a trick-taking area control game. Each round you draw a fresh hand of skirmish cards, pass two to the left, then play one card per skirmish and see who wins. Your loyal samurai bid for control of areas and build prestige, and only the daimyo with the highest reputation takes the throne. Tactical card play meets map pressure, and a round feels like a short campaign. Two to four players, about an hour.

Trick-taking with area controlPass two cards left each roundSamurai bid for areas and prestige

Who it's for

You like trick-taking but want a map and a theme layered on top, and you have three or four people for an hour.

Not for you if…

You dislike trick-taking or want long-term economy building. This is tactical card fighting that resets each round.

Vibe's take

Tactical and tight. You win a skirmish, then watch the map turn on you, and every card played tells the others what you might do next.