The King Is Dead: Second Edition^*

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The King Is Dead: Second Edition is an elegant area-majority game by Peer Sylvester: the king has died without an heir and the Scots, Welsh and English vie for the crown – while you, as nobles in the background, make sure the faction that wins owes you the most. For 2 to 4 players aged 14 and up, 30 to 45 minutes.

How it plays

Everyone holds the same eight action cards, each usable once per game. With them you move followers across the map of Britain, switch your loyalties or provoke power struggles in a region. Each struggle hands the region to the strongest faction, and you take that faction's followers from the supply. At the end, whoever holds the most followers of the faction controlling the realm wins – unless the French land and spoil everyone's plans.

Who is it for?

Fans of El Grande and tight games of bluffing and shared incentives. The second edition adds new artwork, an asymmetric mode for advanced play and a playtime that allows several games in one evening.

Nominated for 2 awards.

👥 2 - 4 Players
⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
🧒 14+ years old
🧩 Easy to learn

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We like The King Is Dead: Second Edition so much that we recommend it in the following board game recommendation lists 2026

Position 29 in Best games released at SPIEL 2021 in Essen
Position 21 in Best games where you can gain control of areas
Position 23 in The best board, card & dice games set in Medieval age
Position 5 in The best board, card & dice games with political elements 👩‍💼
Position 5 in The best combinatorial games 🧮
Position 2 in The best games from Osprey Games 🇬🇧🏢
Position 11 in The best games funded through Spieleschmiede
Position 3 in The best games set in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Position 1 in The best games set in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Position 5 in The best games where the map is gradually reduced in size 🗺
Position 21 in The best games where you can gain dominion over a territory 🗺
Position 2 in The Best Games Where You Can Hold Shares in Goods, Companies, or Countries
Position 2 in The best games where you can hold stocks 📈 in goods, companies or countries
Position 4 in The best games which are campaign or battle card driven

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