Banned Books

About this board game

Banned Books is a solo board game for one player, designed to take about 30 minutes. You take control of an ousted literary character fighting to restore their book to the shelves.

Your story must be told, but the Powers-That-Be have placed it on the banned books list. Each turn, choose actions carefully to advance your agenda, obstruct the Powers, use your character’s unique abilities, or manipulate your tableau.

• Progress your agenda track and manage your progress token.
• Hamper the agenda tracks of the Powers-That-Be.
• Use unique character abilities to support your campaign.
• Manipulate your tableau as you work toward victory.

The path to victory is a race against the decisions of the three Powers. Advance your progress token quickly enough to convince two of the three Powers-That-Be to remove your book from the banned list, and you win.

But the Powers are working toward their own conclusions. If a majority advances their tokens and makes up their minds first, your campaign fails. Your character’s stamina is also limited, and draining it can end the struggle before your story reaches the shelves.

With its focused solo format and literary theme, Banned Books puts one character’s fate in your hands. Balance progress, disruption, special abilities, and stamina as you fight to ensure the story is not banished from the shelves forever.