The Great Wall
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 180 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.9 / 5
- Year
- 2021
About the game
The Great Wall is an asymmetric worker-and-soldier placement game where players lead ancient Chinese clans that must both compete for honor and cooperate to survive relentless Mongol Horde attacks. Each year cycles through four seasons: hordes invade in Spring, players mobilize in Summer, take turns playing Command cards and activating locations in Fall, and defend the Wall in Winter. Every clan is asymmetric from the start through its chosen Leader, and this asymmetry deepens as players hire unique Advisors and build engines suited to their strategy. Honor points come from many different sources, giving players freedom to chart their own path to victory. It's a big, semi-cooperative engine-builder with real thematic weight and tension between self-interest and shared survival.
Hobbli's Notes
The Great Wall's semi-cooperative tension is its best feature: you genuinely need your rivals to help repel the Horde, even as you're racing them for Honor. The asymmetric leaders and Advisor system give it excellent replayability for a game this heavy. Its long 180-minute playtime and dense rules mean it's best reserved for a dedicated group ready to commit a full evening.
What we like
- Semi-cooperative design creates a unique blend of competition and teamwork.
- Asymmetric leaders and Advisors give deep, varied replayability.
- Rich thematic tension between individual glory and collective defense.
- Solo mode makes the experience accessible without a full table.
Keep in mind
- Very long 180-minute playtime demands a serious time commitment.
- High complexity and rules overhead can overwhelm newer gamers.
- Component-heavy setup requires significant table space.
Who it's for
Best for ages 14 and up, experienced heavy-euro gamers in groups of 1-4 who enjoy semi-cooperative strategy.
