The Siege of Runedar
- 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.
- 90 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.4 / 5
- Year
- 2021
About the game
In The Siege of Runedar, a small band of dwarves must defend their fortress from besieging orcs, goblins, and trolls while digging an escape tunnel to carry their newfound gold to safety. Designed by renowned designer Reiner Knizia, this cooperative game for 1-4 players combines deck-building with hand-to-hand and ranged combat as the siege intensifies. Players upgrade their weapons and tools through the deck-building system, balancing offense against the ongoing work of tunneling out. It's a roughly 90-minute fantasy-themed cooperative challenge with strong solo support.
Hobbli's Notes
Knizia's design instincts show through in the dual-objective tension of defending while also digging to escape: it's a smart twist on cooperative tower-defense. The deck-building progression gives a satisfying sense of growth across a session, especially solo.
What we like
- Strong solo and cooperative play from a renowned designer.
- Deck-building progression adds real strategic depth.
- Dual objective of defending and tunneling creates ongoing tension.
- Atmospheric dwarven fantasy theme throughout.
Keep in mind
- Cooperative play can suffer from a dominant player directing decisions.
- Dice-based combat introduces meaningful luck.
- 90-minute runtime may run long for more casual groups.
Who it's for
Great for cooperative and solo strategy fans aged 10 and up who enjoy fantasy-themed deck-building with tactical combat.
