Rise of the Kage

About this board game

Rise of the Kage is a 2–4 player game played in about 60 minutes, pitting the ninjas of the Shadow Wind clan against the guards of the Prefecture of Ryu. Set in the Jwar Isles, it centers on dangerous missions aimed at bringing down the ruling Takashi clan.

The ninja players work cooperatively as deadly warriors moving through the night. They must discover and use weapons ranging from shuriken to poisoned rice while dispatching guards and working toward their goals. Stealth can preserve their advantage, but moving too slowly risks letting dawn arrive before the mission is complete.

Opposing them is the guard boss player, who commands every resource available to stop the intruders. The guards can throw themselves into the ninjas’ path or try to slow them down strategically. If they hold out until sunrise or raise the alarm, the defenders keep the night’s threat at bay.

• Ninjas: cooperate, discover weapons, defeat guards, and complete their objectives.
• Guards: protect the Daimyo, delay the attackers, and work to raise the alarm or survive until dawn.
• Decisions: choose between reckless force that increases the alarm and slower, stealthier movement that may sacrifice precious time.

Every turn brings a balance between speed, stealth, and risk. Rise of the Kage combines sneaky skills with dramatic combat as both sides make difficult choices under the pressure of the coming sunrise.