Tenno

About this board game

Tenno is a card game for 2–7 players, played in about 30 minutes, in which Japanese clans compete for the tenno’s favor through tactical fights and rival captures.

The Japanese clans are lost without the tenno’s favor. To improve their standing, players seek to capture many rivals, increasing their prestige at court and strengthening their influence.

Players provoke fights and attack one another in direct contests. The game frames these clashes as man against man, card against card, making each confrontation part of the struggle for greater clan prestige.

Tenno also brings uncertainty to the competition. Players must consider who is next to compete while remaining alert to the possibility that someone has been clandestinely replaced during the game.

The result is a focused card-game contest built around rival clans, tactical attacks, and the pursuit of favor at court. Capturing opponents is central to improving a clan’s position, while the changing competition keeps attention on every new confrontation.

Released in 2017, Tenno offers a compact setting for 2–7 players. Whether played with a smaller group or at a larger table, its core challenge remains the same: provoke fights carefully, capture rivals, and strengthen your clan’s influence with the tenno.