Kardinal

About this board game

Kardinal is a quick abstract strategy game for 2–4 players that takes about 20 minutes. Players take turns placing buildings in a growing city while seeking the highest final score.

Building placement is made more challenging by seven rules. These rules govern where buildings can go, including the restriction that buildings of the same type cannot be placed next to one another.

Every placement also creates a scoring opportunity. When you place a building, you gain points in the colors that your piece is placed next to, making each addition to the city part of your plan for the final tally.

At the end of the game, identify the color in which you scored the most points. Double that color’s score, then add the points in your other colors as well.

The final calculation also includes points in your color that the other players did not score. This gives the closing score a distinctive twist: the winner is the player with the highest total, not necessarily the one who simply collected the most points in one area.

Released in 2000, Kardinal combines a compact playing time with positional decisions and color-based scoring. Its growing city, placement restrictions, and end-game scoring rule create a focused abstract contest for two to four players.