König von Siam

Play each of your eight action cards just once to shift influence between Siam's factions and back the winner.

Designer: Peer Sylvester
Published by: Histogame

Siam, 1874. The king's reforms have set the Malays, the Lao and the Royalists against each other, but the country has to look united or the British will move in and make it a colony. In König von Siam (King of Siam in English), you and your rivals each hold eight action cards, and each card can be played only once in the whole game. Over eight rounds you play them to add and move followers around the regions, shifting influence between the factions, and when everyone has passed, one region is resolved for the faction with the most support. It is a tight, tense majority game with careful timing. Two to four players, about an hour, and it is best with three.

Eight action cards, each used onceMalays, Lao and Royalists compete for influenceRegion resolved after everyone passes

Who it's for

You like area-majority games where timing matters and you enjoy a tight card-driven struggle for three.

Not for you if…

You want a lot of luck or a light game. It is a tense, planning-heavy contest where mistakes sting.

Vibe's take

Tight, tense and thoughtful. With one use per card, every action is a commitment, and you watch the others' passes closely for the right moment to strike.