Kingdomino

2016

Kingdomino is a captivating board game that invites you into a vibrant, dynamic world of strategy and competition. Designed by Bruno Cathala and published by Blue Orange Games, Kingdomino expertly combines elements of kingdom building and dominoes in an innovative, engaging way. This game is a delightful blend of light strategy and family fun, making it an excellent choice for game nights. The theme of Kingdomino is set in the realm of medieval fantasy, where each player assumes the role of a lord seeking to expand their kingdom. The game immerses players in a world where territories are won not ... Read more

25
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

Medium Light

About the game

Kingdomino is a captivating board game that invites you into a vibrant, dynamic world of strategy and competition. Designed by Bruno Cathala and published by Blue Orange Games, Kingdomino expertly combines elements of kingdom building and dominoes in an innovative, engaging way. This game is a delightful blend of light strategy and family fun, making it an excellent choice for game nights.

The theme of Kingdomino is set in the realm of medieval fantasy, where each player assumes the role of a lord seeking to expand their kingdom. The game immerses players in a world where territories are won not by sword, but by wit and strategy. The primary goal is to build a 5×5 grid kingdom that earns the most points through clever placement of terrain tiles.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The game Kingdomino includes a variety of components that combine to create a rich and engaging gameplay experience. Each of these components plays a unique role in the game, impacting strategy, progression, and the overall experience for players. Here is a detailed list and description of each component:

1. Tiles: There are 48 domino-like tiles in the game. Each tile is divided into two squares, each of which may show one of six different types of terrains: wheat fields, forests, lakes, grasslands, swamps, or mines. Some tiles also have crowns on them. These tiles are used to build your kingdom. The type of terrain and number of crowns on a tile can influence the points a player scores.

2. Castle Tokens: Each player receives a castle token at the beginning of the game. This token acts as the starting point for a player’s kingdom. The castle doesn’t have any inherent value, but it determines where a player can start building their territory.

3. King Tokens: There are also 4 king tokens, one for each player. These tokens are used to claim tiles from the lineup. The player with their king token on a tile claims that tile and adds it to their kingdom.

4. Starting Tiles: These are 4 single-square tiles, each with a different colored back. They act as the initial dominos where players will start building their kingdom around.

5. Score Pad: The game includes a score pad to keep track of players’ scores. The score is calculated based on the size of connected terrain squares in the player’s kingdom and the number of crowns in those areas.

6. Game Box: The game box is not just for storage. It is also used to display tiles during each round. Players choose their tiles from the box based on their order in the current round.

Interaction with the game: The interaction between these components is what makes the game interesting. Players take turns claiming tiles from the game box using their king tokens, and then adding these tiles to their kingdom, which starts from the castle token and expands around the starting tile. The objective is to create a large kingdom with many connected tiles of the same type of terrain and as many crowns as possible. The player with the most points at the end of the game, calculated using the score pad, is the winner.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Kingdomino is a strategy board game that revolves around players taking on the role of the king in their respective kingdoms. The objective is to build the best possible kingdom by connecting dominos of matching terrains. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game for play:

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player is a king seeking new lands to expand their kingdom. There are no specific roles other than this. The number of players can range from 2 to 4.

Step 2: Board Placement

Each player starts with a square castle tile which acts as their starting tile. This tile is placed in the center of where their kingdom will be built.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Players are given a king token in a color of their choosing. These tokens are used to mark which dominos a player has claimed.

Step 4: Preparing the Dominos

The game comes with 48 dominos, each depicting 2 terrain squares. The dominos are shuffled and then placed in a pile, face down. The number of dominos used in a game depends on the number of players:

For 2 players, use 24 dominos.
For 3 players, use 36 dominos.
For 4 players, use all 48 dominos.

Step 5: Random Elements

At the start of each round, a certain number of dominos are drawn randomly from the pile and arranged in ascending numerical order. The number of dominos drawn depends on the number of players:

For 2 players, draw 4 dominos.
For 3 or 4 players, draw as many dominos as there are players.

Step 6: First Round

In the first round, the player who goes first is determined randomly. That player then chooses one of the dominos on display and places their king token on it, claiming it for their kingdom. Play proceeds clockwise, with each player choosing and claiming a domino in turn.

Remember: the goal is to build a 5×5 grid kingdom that scores the most points. Points are awarded based on the size of each area in the kingdom times the number of crowns on the tiles in that area.

Game flow Round and round we go

Kingdomino is a highly strategic board game that requires players to construct a 5×5 kingdom by placing dominos with terrains on them. Each player attempts to earn the maximum points by grouping different types of terrains together and placing crowns on them.

Here are the detailed steps of how to play a game of Kingdomino:

Setup:

Each player chooses a king in a color of their choice and receives a starting tile.
The dominoes are shuffled and placed in the box. The first 4 dominoes are drawn and laid out in numerical order.
The youngest player goes first and chooses one of the 4 dominoes. The other players do the same in clockwise order.

Gameplay:

Domino Selection: In turn order, each player chooses a new domino from the line-up for the next round and places their king on it.
Domino Placement: The player then takes the domino they selected in the previous round and adds it to their kingdom. Dominos must always connect to at least one matching terrain or the starting tile, and the kingdom can’t exceed a 5×5 grid.
End of the Round: Once all players have selected a new domino and placed their previous one, the round ends. The next 4 dominos are drawn and laid out in numerical order.

End of the Game:

The game ends when each player has completed a 5×5 grid in their kingdom. If a player can’t place a domino, they simply discard it.

Scoring:

Each terrain type in a kingdom is scored separately. For each group of touching squares of the same terrain type, the player multiplies the number of squares in that group by the number of crowns in that group. The player with the highest total score wins.

If there is a tie, the player with the most sprawling terrain (i.e., the most squares in a single group of connected terrains) wins.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In the board game ‘Kingdomino’, players take turns in a specific order, and each turn consists of a few key steps. Understanding these steps is crucial for formulating a winning strategy. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Choosing a Domino:

At the start of each round, players select a new domino from the lineup. The order of selection is determined by the position of their King meeples on the previous set of dominoes. The player whose King is on the topmost domino chooses first.

2. Placing a Domino:

Once a player has chosen a domino, they must place it in their kingdom. A domino must either connect to another domino matching at least one of its terrains or to the starting castle. It is crucial to think strategically when placing dominoes, as the positioning can significantly affect future rounds and overall scoring.

3. Setting up for the Next Round:

After placing their chosen domino, players place their King meeple on one of the dominoes in the next lineup, marking their choice for the next round. The order of the next round is determined by the position of the Kings on these dominoes. Choosing a domino with a potentially high score might place a player last in the next selection order, so the decision needs to be balanced.

Strategic Choices:

Maximizing Territory Scores:
Players should aim to create large territories of the same type, as the score of each territory is the product of the number of tiles and the number of crowns on those tiles. Therefore, a larger territory with more crowns will score higher points.
Planning Ahead:
Players need to anticipate future rounds when choosing and placing dominoes. The positioning of dominoes is crucial, as it can enable or block future placement options. Therefore, a player needs to consider not only the current round but also potential future rounds.
Adapting to Other Players’ Strategies:
Players should also keep an eye on other players’ kingdoms and strategies. By doing so, a player can anticipate the dominoes that other players might be interested in and adjust their strategy accordingly.

Through careful selection, strategic placement of dominoes, and adaptability, players can maximize their scores and increase their chances of reigning supreme in ‘Kingdomino’.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Kingdomino’ ends after 12 rounds, when all tiles have been drawn and the players’ 5×5 grids have been filled. The ending of the game triggers the final score tally where victory conditions come into play.

Victory Conditions:

Victory in ‘Kingdomino’ is determined by the total number of points a player has earned through their constructed kingdom. Points are calculated based on the size of each area in the kingdom (an area being a group of connected terrain squares of the same type) multiplied by the number of crowns in that area.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

Complete the Kingdom: Ensure that your kingdom does not exceed the 5×5 grid. Any tiles that cause your kingdom to exceed this size must be discarded.
Count the Crowns: For each type of territory in your kingdom, count the number of crown symbols. Remember, empty terrains are worth zero points regardless of size.
Calculate Territory Scores: Multiply the number of squares in each territory by the number of crowns on those squares. This gives you the total points for that territory.
Add up the Points: Add together the points from each territory. This gives you the final score for your kingdom.

In the event of a tie, the player with the largest single area of connected terrain squares (regardless of type) in their kingdom wins. If there is still a tie, then the player who went first in the initial turn order is the winner.

Remember, strategic planning and clever placement of your dominos will greatly influence your final score. Happy gaming!

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Kingdomino’, players earn points based on the size and type of their territories. Each territory is a continuous group of like-typed dominoes that are connected horizontally or vertically. The score for each territory is the total count of crown symbols multiplied by the total number of squares in that territory.

Scoring Example: If a player has a forest territory with 5 squares and 2 crowns, they would score 10 points (5 squares x 2 crowns) for that territory. A territory without any crowns scores zero points, regardless of its size.

At the end of the game, the player with the most points is the winner. The following steps are used to determine the final score:

Calculate the score for each individual territory (as described above).
Add up the scores of all territories to get the total score.

If two or more players have the same score, the tie-breaking rules are as follows:

The player with the most completed territories wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the largest territory wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who went first in the last round of the game wins.

Note: A territory is considered ‘complete’ if it is surrounded by other dominoes or the edge of the player’s kingdom on all sides, and ‘largest’ territory means the one with the most squares.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Kingdomino is a strategy board game where players are tasked to build their kingdom using various types of dominoes. Despite its relatively simple rules, there are some rare or special rules, exceptions, and important clarifications that players need to understand to maximize their gameplay.

1. Starting Tile:

The starting tile is a special tile that doesn’t count towards the 5×5 kingdom size. It’s not considered a terrain type so it doesn’t contribute to scoring.

2. The 5×5 Grid Rule:

One important rule in Kingdomino is that your kingdom must not exceed a 5×5 grid. However, there are exceptions to this rule. If a player cannot place a domino within this 5×5 grid, they must discard the domino.

3. Scoring:

Scoring in Kingdomino is a bit unique. Each connected area of matching terrain in your kingdom scores a number of points equal to the number of squares in the area multiplied by the number of crowns on those squares. If there are no crowns on a terrain, it doesn’t score any points, regardless of its size.

4. The Middle Kingdom:

A special rule applies if a player manages to have their starting castle tile exactly in the middle of their 5×5 grid at the end of the game. This player scores an additional 10 points.

5. The Harmony Bonus:

Another special rule applies if a player can complete their 5×5 grid without discarding any dominoes. This player scores an additional 5 points.

6. Two-Player Variant:

In a two-player game, each player takes turn drawing two dominoes per round. This means that each player will have a kingdom of 7×7 grid instead of 5×5.

7. End of Game:

The game ends when each player has completed their kingdom or when there are no more dominoes in the pile to draw from.

While these special rules and exceptions add complexity to the game, they also introduce strategic depth and replayability, making Kingdomino a fun and engaging board game for all ages.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

In the game of ‘Kingdomino’, players aim to build the most impressive kingdom by connecting dominos of matching terrain types. The following guide provides insights into advanced strategies, beginner tips, and common mistakes to avoid. It also offers ways to optimize gameplay for maximum fun and success.

Advanced Strategies:

Plan Ahead: Always have a strategy for your kingdom layout. Consider future tile placements and think two steps ahead.
Balance Between Crowns and Tiles: Aim for a balance between crowns and tiles. A large area of one type of terrain won’t score high without crowns.
Control the Draft: Try to control the draft by selecting a tile that your opponents need, even if it doesn’t benefit you directly.

Beginner Tips:

Start in the Middle: Start building your kingdom in the middle of your grid. This gives you more flexibility for tile placement later.
Keep an Eye on Your Opponents: Pay attention to what tiles your opponents are taking. You can often guess what their strategies might be.
Practice: As with any game, practice makes perfect. The more you play, the more you will understand the game mechanics and strategy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring Crowns: New players often forget the importance of crowns. Remember, terrain type squares only score points if they have at least one crown.
Neglecting Balance: Don’t focus too much on one strategy. A balanced approach often leads to better results.
Not Adapting Strategy: The game changes with every turn. Don’t stick to a failing strategy if the dominos aren’t falling in your favor.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Stay Flexible: Stay flexible in your strategy. The best-laid plans often change based on the tiles that come up.
Prioritize Crowns: Make it a priority to grab tiles with crowns. These are crucial for scoring points.
Use the Two-Tile Rule: Remember the two-tile rule. You can’t place a tile unless it touches at least one other tile of the same terrain type, or it touches the starting castle.