Brian Boru: High King of Ireland
- Players
- 3-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 90 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.6 / 5
- Year
- 2021
About the game
Brian Boru: High King of Ireland has players vying to unite Ireland through military might, cunning diplomacy, and strategic marriages. The core of the game is a trick-taking mechanism split across three suits representing the historical Brian Boru's three pillars of power: battling Vikings, courting the Church, and forging alliances. Winning a trick grants influence in a town and pushes toward regional majority, while losing a trick still grants a useful action, so every card played matters either way. Players fend off Viking invaders, build monasteries, and gather support across the land as history's threads are woven into a card game. It's a clever fusion of trick-taking and area-majority strategy set in Medieval Ireland.
Hobbli's Notes
this is one of the more inventive trick-taking hybrids we've seen, turning a familiar card mechanism into genuine territorial strategy. The historical grounding in Brian Boru's real rise to power gives the theme unusual weight for a card game. It asks players to think several tricks ahead, which may not suit those who prefer straightforward trick-taking. A rewarding pick for gamers who enjoy card-driven area control with real bite.
What we like
- Clever trick-taking mechanism doubles as area-majority strategy.
- Rich historical Irish theme grounded in real events.
- Meaningful choice in whether to win or lose each trick.
- High player interaction throughout every round.
Keep in mind
- Trick-taking fans and area-control fans may want different things from it.
- Best experienced with 3 or more players.
- Some rules overhead in learning suit interactions.
Who it's for
Good for strategy gamers aged 14+ who enjoy trick-taking and area-control games, best with 3-5 players.
