The King's Dilemma*
The King's Dilemma presents a captivating blend of narrative storytelling and strategy, set in the fictional Kingdom of Ankist. As players, you step into the roles of leaders of various noble houses, each with your own agendas and influence, making critical decisions that shape the fate of the kingdom.
Key Features
-
Interactive Narrative: The game's heart is its branching storylines, which lead to numerous possible endings. Each choice you make influences the direction and outcome of the story.
-
Legacy Elements: The game evolves with each playthrough, with new elements and storylines emerging based on your decisions.
-
Dilemma Deck: A central deck of event cards presents a series of dilemmas that the Council (players) must address, adding depth and unpredictability to the gameplay.
-
Council Decisions: As a member of the King's inner circle, you engage in discussions, negotiations, and ultimately decision-making that affects the kingdom's trajectory.
-
Consequences and Trade-Offs: Every decision has far-reaching consequences, often posing a conflict between what's best for the kingdom and what benefits your house.
Gameplay Mechanics
- Drawing Cards: Each round involves drawing a card from the Dilemma deck, unveiling new challenges and story elements.
- Group Decision-Making: Players collectively decide on the course of action for each dilemma, with each decision carrying weight in the story's progress.
- Balancing Act: Players must balance the needs and wellbeing of the kingdom against their house's interests and goals.
Unique Aspects
- Evolving Story: The game's narrative evolves uniquely with each play, based on the collective decisions of the players.
- Moral Choices: The game often presents moral dilemmas, pushing players to weigh personal gain against ethical considerations.
- Legacy Format: The legacy format ensures that no two playthroughs are the same, with new cards and story paths unlocking as you play.
Conclusion
The King's Dilemma is a game for those who love deep narrative experiences and enjoy the intricacies of political decision-making and strategy. It challenges players not just to win, but to shape a story, create a legacy, and navigate the complex waters of moral and political choices. This game is an excellent choice for groups that enjoy immersive role-playing and strategic decision-making in a richly developed game world.
Nominated for 7 awards.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020
- 3 - 5 Players
- 45 - 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews, ratings, Let's Plays and tests for The King's Dilemma
We like The King's Dilemma so much that we recommend it in the following board game recommendation lists 2024
- Position 5 in All "As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année"🇫🇷 2021 winners & nominees compared.
- Position 9 in All "Spiel des Jahres🇩🇪 2020" game award winners & nominees in comparison
- Position 9 in The best "As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année Expert"🇫🇷 winners & nominees. (Expert Game)
- Position 5 in The best board, card & dice games with political elements 👩💼
- Position 27 in The best board games for ages 14 and up
- Position 3 in The best games from Lorenzo Silva 🇮🇹👨
- Position 30 in The best games presented at the Spiel 2019 game fair in Essen, Germany
- Position 1 in The best games where game pieces move additionally based on inertia
- Position 16 in The best games where you can vote 🙋♀️
- Position 21 in The best "Kennerspiel des Jahres" game award winners and nominees
- Position 7 in The best legacy board games - every game will be different!
- Position 8 in The best negotiation games 🤝
- Position 21 in The best storytelling games - making up stories