The best games from Seiji Kanai 🇯🇵👨 2025
Looking for a really good game from game designer Seiji Kanai 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Seiji Kanai games 2025.
Who is Seiji Kanai anyway?
Seiji Kanai has been designing dice, card & board games since 2005. The game designer hails from Präfektur Kanagawa, Japan🇯🇵, was born in 1981 and currently lives in Japan🇯🇵. He is also known as カナイセイジ, Kanai Sage.
Kanai's first game "Dragon Rush" he developed in 2005 at the age of 24 - so he has been designing games for over 20 years. Famous Kanai games are for example Love Letter und die Love-Letter-Serie, Lost Legacy & BraveRats.
Who is Seiji Kanai anyway?
Seiji Kanai has been designing dice, card & board games since 2005. The game designer hails from Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan🇯🇵, was born in 1981 and currently lives in Japan🇯🇵. To our knowledge, it is currently the only professional analog game designer among the nearly 300 in Japan. Kanai, by the way, is spelled カナイセイジ in Japanese, sometimes called "Kanai Sage."
Kanai's first game "Dragon Rush" was developed in 2005 at the age of 24 - so he's been designing games for over 20 years of games. Famous Kanai games include Love Letter and the Love Letter series, Lost Legacy & BraveRats.
Game fair in Essen & awards from Germany brought the breakthrough
In 2008, he exhibited for the first time at SPIEL'08 via JAPON BRAND. In 2012, he was at Spiel'12 with the game "Love Letter". Both the €7 variant with a red bag that was sold initially and the version subsequently sold without a bag for €3 sold out in a very short time.
In 2014, "Love Letter" won the 4th prize at the Deutscher Spielepreis 2014. It was the first Japanese game to win this award.
Game inventor already in his teens
Kanai started making simple "Sugoroku" (a Japanese version of Pachisi) when he was still in his teens. His dream was to one day be able to make a living solely from creating new games.
After dropping out of college, he lived with his parents in Tokyo and supported himself with odd jobs. The underlying motivation for his game development is not so much financial gain, but the joy of providing entertainment for others, he says.
Love Letter brought the breakthrough
There was a contest called "500 Yen Games" at Japan's largest board game event, Game Market. In 2010, he planned to make a game ("Regality & Religion") at a low production cost and sell it for 500 yen (about €4.40 at the time). A publisher had a special offer to print 16 cards very cheaply.
Then, after another game in 2011 ("R"), he finally showed Love Letter at the 2012 "Game Market." At the game fair, publisher AEG also became aware of the game and acquired the license. Everything after that is history.
How good are "Seiji Kanai" games?
There are 4 games by Seiji Kanai in our Top1000 games list, making Kanai the #61 best game author out of a total of 708 authors in our database.
More information about Kanai
More information about Kanai can be found on:
- Kanai's BGG profile
- Kanai's Twitter feed
- official Seiji Kanai website
- Interview with Kanai by Japan Times
List of best games by Seiji Kanai 2025
In this list we have listed the best board games that Seiji Kanai either designed himself - or was involved in designing.
Unfortunately, not all of Seiji Kanai's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Seiji Kanai that you can buy 2025:
Love Letter
More details for Love LetterLove Letter is a charming and strategic card game where players vie for the affection of a noble Princess, aspiring to become her most trusted confidant. Utilizing a blend of deduction, risk, and luck, players must navigate the royal court by enlisting influential characters to deliver their love letter to the Princess.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Love Letter
Love Letter
In Love Letter, you must compete with other suitors to deliver a romantic letter to Princess Annette, who has secluded herself in the palace.
Nominated for 15 awards and won 7.
More details for Love Letter- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Love Letter
Love Letter: Adventure Time
More details for Love Letter: Adventure TimeAdventure Time Love Letter is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2-4 players, re-themed with characters from the animated hit. Players aim to win the affection of Princess Bubblegum by playing cards to eliminate opponents, scoring points through strategy.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Star Wars: Jabba's Palace – A Love Letter Game
More details for Star Wars: Jabba's Palace – A Love Letter GameJabba's lair is a place of danger and deception. Players compete with members of the Rebel Alliance and the residents of Jabba's Palace, using the abilities of iconic characters while trying to outsmart their opponents. The game retains the simple and fun mechanics of the original, introducing Agenda cards that offer new victory conditions and additional strategic depth.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Lovecraft Letter
More details for Lovecraft LetterLovecraft Letter transports you into the eerie world of H.P. Lovecraft in the 1920s. This card game, a unique take on the Love Letter system, blends mystery with an "insanity" mechanic that adds depth and intrigue to the gameplay.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 5 - 15 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Lovecraft Letter
Infinity Gauntlet: A Love Letter Game
Infinity Gauntlet: A Love Letter Game brings the epic struggle from the Marvel Universe to the tabletop in a dynamic adaptation of the classic Love Letter mechanics. This version transforms the game into a thrilling one-vs-many experience, pitting one player as the formidable Thanos against a team of heroes aiming to thwart his universe-altering plans.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Infinity Gauntlet: A Love Letter Game- 2 - 6 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Infinity Gauntlet: A Love Letter Game
Love Letter: The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies
More details for Love Letter: The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five ArmiesPlayers engage in a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2-4 participants, inspired by the original Love Letter. The deck consists of 17 cards, with unique abilities and rankings that influence gameplay. Players aim to be the last active participant or hold the highest card to earn points, and the first to win 4-7 rounds, depending on the player count, claims victory.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Archer: Once You Go Blackmail...
More details for Archer: Once You Go Blackmail...Archer: Once You Go Blackmail... focuses on deception and adds intrigue, vices, and new card effects to the mechanics of Love Letter. Each player starts with a character card while one character is removed from play. On their turn, a player draws a card and plays one of their two cards, aiming to either eliminate others or have the highest number in hand at the end of the round. Winning enough rounds secures the overall victory.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
BraveRats
BraveRats is a simple and quick simultaneous action selection game for two players, played with cards. Each player has a hand of eight cards numbered from 0 to 7, with each card possessing a unique power. Players reveal their selected card simultaneously, with the highest card winning the round; the game continues until one player has won four rounds.
Nominated for 1 award and won 1.
More details for BraveRats- 2 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Lost Legacy: Second Chronicle – Vorpal Sword & Whitegold Spire
More details for Lost Legacy: Second Chronicle – Vorpal Sword & Whitegold SpireIn a distant past, a spaceship from another world appeared in the sky. Damaged in battle, it broke apart, scattering across the horizon, with its remnants becoming legendary treasures known as the Lost Legacy. Players must discover the location of this treasure to win.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 10 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
Lost Legacy: Third Chronicle – Sacred Grail & Staff of Dragons
More details for Lost Legacy: Third Chronicle – Sacred Grail & Staff of DragonsA spaceship from a distant world appeared in the sky long ago. Damaged in battle, it broke apart, scattering across the horizon and becoming legendary as lost heritage. Players will explore to find the Lost Legacy and secure victory.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 10 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
Lost Legacy
More details for Lost LegacyLost Legacy is an official spin-off that includes two sets of 16 cards: The Spaceship and Flying Garden. Players can use either set or combine them in different ways to change the available powers. It is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2-4 players, where each round involves drawing, playing a card, executing its effect, and guessing the location of the "Lost Legacy" card.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Zaginione Dziedzictwo: Gwiezdne Ostrze
More details for Zaginione Dziedzictwo: Gwiezdne OstrzeLost Legacy: Vorpal Sword is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2-4 players. Each player starts with a card from a deck of sixteen. Players draw a card, play one from their hand, and use its effect, then pass the turn. If cards remain, players guess who holds the "Lost Legacy" card, which could also be in the "Ruins." The game allows up to six players by combining different sets, keeping only one "Lost Legacy" card in play.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Chronicle
More details for ChroniclePlayers engage in an irregular trick-taking game that intertwines various individual abilities, shaping the narrative of the land. They must decide how to utilize their powers to navigate events and leave their mark in history. For beginners, it's advised to play with 3 or 4 players, and to remove specific story cards until familiar with the game's mechanics.
- 3 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Chronicle
Cheaty Mages!
Players take on the role of wizards who observe and bet on monsters fighting in an arena. They can use their spells to help their chosen monsters win or hinder their opponents. However, judges are present in the arena, and excessive cheating may lead to penalties, including disqualification. Who will leave with the most gold?
Nominated for 1 award and won 1.
More details for Cheaty Mages!- 3 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Gods' Gambit
More details for Gods' GambitPlayers represent fallen gods who must solve problems and perform good deeds to return to the High Heaven. By playing a card from their hand that matches either the color or value of the cards on the table, they fulfill assigned tasks. Players can use their servants to eliminate excess quests or create difficulties for other gods, but such actions incur bad karma that can affect their chances of success if they do not complete all their quests.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 20 Minutes
- Easy to learn
Mai-Star
More details for Mai-StarA card game about Japanese geishas where players take on the roles of different geishas competing for the legendary title of "Mai-Star." Players boost their popularity by attracting guests, with more demanding guests providing greater rewards. The game ends when one player runs out of cards, turning any remaining cards into penalty points, making it crucial to exhaust your hand quickly. The player who has attracted the wealthiest guests after three festival nights wins the title.
- 3 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
RR
More details for RRSeiji Kanai created the abstract two-player game that consists of 15 cards designed for a competition with a budget of 500 Yen (about $5). Players each start with seven identical cards, placing them on a 3x3 board, alternating moves to influence the surrounding cards. The game concludes when the board is full, with the winner being the player who has the most open cards. An improved version, "RRR - Regality & Religion: Revolution", includes a board, game pieces instead of cards, and neutral stones used randomly in each game.
- 2 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Sword Art Online Board Game: Sword of Fellows
More details for Sword Art Online Board Game: Sword of FellowsPlayers cooperate and use dice to defeat monsters and survive in this board game based on the Sword Art Online anime. Teamwork is essential to navigate the challenges ahead.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Adventure Tours
As an expedition leader at Adventure Tours, you want to take explorers on journeys that showcase great sights and earn you a lot of money. However, you must have the right equipment to bring anyone anywhere.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Adventure Tours- 3 - 6 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Say Bye to the Villains
More details for Say Bye to the VillainsPlayers cooperate in a card game to defeat a villain who has harmed people. They can exchange limited information, discard specific cards to uncover hidden details about the villain, and undergo special training to enhance their attack abilities while performing unique actions using other cards.
- 3 - 8 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Eight Epics
More details for Eight EpicsPlayers cooperate in a dice game where they must overcome unprecedented crises using their unique powers. However, a hero's ability to perform heroic feats is limited, requiring them to prevent disaster before running out of lives.
- 1 - 8 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Unicornus Knights
More details for Unicornus KnightsPlayers take on the role of generals helping a princess reach her capital after being driven away by a sudden attack. The game is played on a modular board, where each section features a hostile general. As players approach these generals, they draw random "fate cards" that enhance the narrative and tactics available during the game.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Unicornus Knights
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