Fief: France 1429
- Players
- 3-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 6 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 240 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.8 / 5
- Year
- 2015
About the game
Fief: France 1429 places players as noble families in 15th-century France, vying to control Fief and Bishopric territories and gain Royal and Ecclesiastical titles. Marriage alliances between families create shared victories (and shared risk), while negotiation, voting, and occasional battle determine who rises to power. Event cards bring both fortune and disaster, from good harvests to plague, shaking up the balance of the kingdom. It's a sprawling game of dynastic ambition, diplomacy, and betrayal for a dedicated table.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli regards Fief as one of the most immersive political negotiation games available, but it is not a casual pick: sessions can run four hours or more, packed with subsystems for elections, marriage, taxation, and combat. Groups who love deep social maneuvering and shifting alliances will find it richly rewarding. It demands a patient table fully committed to the whole session.
What we like
- Deep political negotiation with marriage alliances and shifting loyalties.
- Rich medieval French setting with strong thematic flavor.
- Team-based win condition creates dynamic alliances and betrayals.
- Long, meaty experience for groups who love a full campaign-style evening.
Keep in mind
- Extremely long playtime (up to 4 hours) with very high downtime between turns.
- Complex rules with many subsystems demand a patient group.
- Not suited to casual or first-time players.
- Requires a full table committed to the entire session.
Who it's for
Best for 3-6 experienced gamers, ages 13+, who enjoy long, negotiation-heavy political strategy games.
