In the Year of the Dragon
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 100 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.1 / 5
- Year
- 2007
About the game
In the Year of the Dragon puts players in charge of a Chinese province through twelve grueling months, each bringing disease, drought, Mongol raids, or other calamities. Every round, players choose one action, recruit a person card into their palace for its unique ability, then weather that month's punishing event. Farmers stave off famine, tax collectors raise money for tribute to the Emperor, and careful planning is the only way to avoid losing workers or points. Designed by Stefan Feld, it's a tense, tightly wound worker-and-card management game with almost no room for error. Surviving to the end is an achievement in itself: winning requires real foresight.
Hobbli's Notes
This is Feld at his most merciless: In the Year of the Dragon is famous for punishing even small missteps, and that unforgiving tension is exactly what its fans love. The person-card recruitment creates fascinating engine-building puzzles as you try to cover every disaster before it hits. It's a heavier, drier experience than many modern euros, but the payoff for a well-played year is deeply satisfying.
What we like
- Tight event-driven structure creates constant meaningful tension.
- Person-card recruitment allows for varied engine-building strategies.
- Rewards careful long-term planning across all twelve months.
- Distinctive, unforgiving design stands out among Feld's catalog.
Keep in mind
- Punishing events can feel harsh for newer or casual players.
- Long 100-minute playtime with high complexity.
- Downtime can be significant, with a low D grade for waiting between turns.
Who it's for
Best for ages 12 and up, experienced euro-gamers in groups of 2-5 who enjoy tense resource planning.
