Age of Conan: The Strategy Board Game
- Players
- 2-4
- 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.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.3 / 5
- Year
- 2009
About the game
Age of Conan puts players in charge of one of four Hyborian kingdoms, wielding armies, sorcery, and intrigue to become the age's dominant power while courting the legendary hero Conan himself. A shared pool of fate dice determines available actions each turn, and players bid to control the coveted Conan character during recurring adventures. Over three ages, kingdoms rise through combat, kingdom-card synergies, and shifting alliances. It's a sprawling, thematic battle for supremacy in Robert E. Howard's world.
Hobbli's Notes
This is a big, ambitious game that leans hard into its source material, with the auction-driven Conan mechanic providing a clever recurring highlight. The long downtime and heavy rules overhead mean it's best reserved for groups already committed to an epic evening.
What we like
- Rich Conan the Barbarian theme woven directly into mechanics.
- Bidding to become the Conan player creates memorable recurring drama.
- Variable player powers and kingdom cards add strategic variety.
- Three-age structure gives a satisfying long-term arc.
Keep in mind
- Very high downtime grade makes turns between players feel slow.
- High complexity and long playtime limit accessibility for casual groups.
- Requires a strong grasp of multiple interacting systems to play well.
Who it's for
Best for experienced gamers, ages 12 and up, in groups of two to four who enjoy heavy thematic wargames and don't mind long sessions with significant downtime.
