2020 · Political

The King Is Dead: Second Edition

Players represent competing nobles vying to shape the succession after the king’s death, manipulating three regional factions—Scottish, Welsh, and English—and responding to opportunistic foreign invaders. On each turn, players spend limited resources to place influence, trigger events, and resolve power struggles across the map, trying to ensure the dominant faction favors their claim. The game emphasizes shifting alliances and tactical positioning, with a mix of area influence, action selection, and event-driven changes to the balance of power. Advanced play adds an asymmetric mode that gives players distinct abilities and strategic roles.

groupPlayers

2–4 best 3

schedulePlaying time

30–45 min

cakeAge

14+

psychologyComplexity

2.2 / 5