Ikusa
- 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.
- 360 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.0 / 5
- Year
- 1986
About the game
Ikusa (also known as Shogun and Samurai Swords) drops players into a chaotic civil war for control of feudal Japan. Commanding daimyos and provincial forces across the islands, you bid koku for turn order, purchase castles and troops, and launch attacks resolved through dice combat. Victory belongs to whoever conquers enough territory or defeats rival daimyos outright to be named Shogun. It's a classic large-scale conquest wargame with deep player interaction.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli regards this as a genuine classic of the area-control wargame genre: the bidding-for-turn-order twist and multi-hour campaign of conquest still hold up for groups who love a big, meaty strategy showdown.
What we like
- Deep area-control strategy with meaningful bidding decisions.
- Classic pedigree as one of the best-known conquest wargames.
- Rich player interaction through combat and territory struggles.
- Epic scale conquest feel across a large Japan-themed map.
Keep in mind
- Very long playtime of up to six hours.
- High complexity is a barrier for new players.
- Significant downtime between turns in larger player counts.
Who it's for
Best for experienced wargamers and strategy fans aged 12+ willing to commit a full evening (up to five players) to a deep conquest game.
