Die Zwerge: Königswahl^*

Die Zwerge: Königswahl is a card game based on the Markus Heitz novels, in which two to five players aged 8 and up fight over who inherits the dwarven throne.

What's it about?

The throne needs a new king, and everyone wants to end up on the right side of the succession. The components stay simple: a deck of cards and one coin. The coin shows who currently has the future king in front of them. It is also the only thing that matters at the end, so expect it to travel around the table.

How it plays

1. Play a card, either for its immediate effect or face up in front of you.
2. Cards in front of players shape the line of succession.
3. If that creates a new heir apparent, the coin changes hands.
4. The game ends when someone must play a card but has none, or when a card says so.

Whoever holds the coin at that moment wins.

Who is it for?

A game takes about 25 minutes. It suits families and fans of the books who like to meddle and wait for the right moment. Michael Palm and Lukas Zach designed it, and you don't need to have read the novels to join in.

Conclusion

If you enjoy short card games with plenty of back and forth, this is a quick power struggle to try. Long-term planners may like it less, because the lead can flip with every card.