Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 120 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.4 / 5
- Year
- 2019
About the game
Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan is a standalone follow-up to The Voyages of Marco Polo, sending players back west to gather wealth, fame, and a valuable new resource: jade. Using the series' signature dice-based worker placement system, players race to complete contracts, control key locations, and outmaneuver rivals across a changing map. New actions and scoring rules give returning fans a fresh strategic puzzle while remaining fully playable without the original game.
Hobbli's Notes
This sequel refines an already excellent dice-worker-placement system with meaningful new wrinkles. It's a satisfying, weighty Euro game for players who enjoyed the original, though the added complexity means it plays best with a group already comfortable with worker placement.
What we like
- Innovative dice-as-workers system remains fresh and clever.
- New jade resource and actions add strategic variety.
- Fully standalone, requiring no prior ownership of the original.
- Asymmetric player powers encourage different strategies each game.
Keep in mind
- Fairly heavy rules overhead for newcomers to the system.
- Long playtime of around two hours.
- Can invite analysis paralysis at higher player counts.
Who it's for
Best suited to experienced Euro gamers ages 12 and up, in groups of two to four, who enjoy dice-driven worker placement and resource optimization.
