A Game of Thrones: Hand of the King
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 30 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 1.2 / 5
- Year
- 2016
About the game
A Game of Thrones: Hand of the King is a fast, tactical card game set in the intrigue-filled court of King's Landing. Players move Varys across a 6x6 grid of character tokens, collecting characters from a House he passes over to build support and claim banners. Companion cards add powerful one-time abilities, and claiming the last member of a House unlocks their reward. It's a tightly designed 30-minute game of positioning and set collection for 2-4 players.
Hobbli's Notes
Bruno Cathala packs a surprising amount of tactical bite into a small box here: reading the grid and denying opponents key paths is where the real game lives. The Game of Thrones theming is more than skin deep thanks to the character abilities. A terrific quick strategy game for fans of the series or sharp, spatial card games generally.
What we like
- Fast 30-minute playtime.
- Clever grid-based movement and set collection.
- Strong Game of Thrones theming and characters.
- Easy to learn but tactically rich.
Keep in mind
- Can invite analysis paralysis over optimal paths.
- Board layout luck affects available strategies.
- Two-player games feel notably different from four-player.
Who it's for
Great for fans of tactical card games and Game of Thrones aged 14+ looking for a quick, sharp 2-4 player session.
