Blue Moon
- Players
- 2
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 30 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.2 / 5
- Year
- 2004
About the game
Blue Moon is a two-player card game by Reiner Knizia set in a world abandoned by its god, where different peoples fight for dominance and the favor of three elemental dragons. Each side commands a unique 30-card deck representing a distinct people, such as the fiery Vulca or the cunning Hoax, each with its own mechanics and playstyle. Fights are contested in fire or earth as players alternate playing cards to build power in combat and support areas, retreating when they can no longer keep pace. Since every card in an expansion is fixed rather than randomized, Blue Moon functioned as an early precursor to the modern Living Card Game format. Winning fights attracts dragons, and collecting enough dragons or outlasting your opponent's deck secures victory.
Hobbli's Notes
Blue Moon deserves recognition as one of the earliest non-random, fixed-card-pool card games, quietly paving the way for the LCG format years before that term existed. We like how differently each people plays, giving the game strong asymmetric replay value across its several expansions. The escalating power-matching duels create real tension despite the game's compact 30-minute runtime. It's a clever, underappreciated two-player design from one of the hobby's most prolific designers.
What we like
- Pioneered a fixed, non-random card pool years before the modern LCG format existed.
- Each people plays with genuinely distinct mechanics and strategies.
- Quick, tense escalating duels resolve in around 30 minutes.
- Expandable with additional faction decks for more variety.
Keep in mind
- Strictly limited to two players.
- Long out of print, making complete sets harder to find today.
- Some faction match-ups may feel unbalanced against each other.
Who it's for
Best for two-player card game fans aged 12+ who enjoy asymmetric factions and tactical escalation duels.
