Royals
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.2 / 5
- Year
- 2014
About the game
Royals casts players as rival noble houses of 17th-century Europe, jockeying for influential positions within the guilds and courts. Using country cards and intrigue cards, you place family members into ranked titles that pay off in victory points across three scoring periods. Higher-ranked titles demand more resources, so timing and area influence matter as much as the cards in hand. It's a tight, medium-weight Euro built around drafting and set collection with a light historical veneer.
Hobbli's Notes
A clean, under-the-radar area-influence design: the scoring periods create good pacing and the intrigue cards give just enough player interaction to keep everyone leaning forward. It won't wow theme-hungry players, but euro fans who like efficient influence-majority puzzles should find it satisfying.
What we like
- Clever area-influence scoring across three distinct periods.
- Drafting and set collection combine into meaningful decisions.
- Intrigue cards let players contest positions for good tension.
- Plays in about an hour, tight for its strategic depth.
Keep in mind
- Historical theme is fairly abstract and pasted-on.
- Card draw luck can swing available options.
- May feel dry for players wanting strong narrative flavor.
Who it's for
Euro gamers who enjoy area-majority and drafting games, best with 3-5 players in an hour-long session.
