Genpei

About this board game

Genpei is a strategic game for 1–4 players, with games lasting around 45 minutes, in which players compete to become the new Emperor of Japan.

The emperor is dead, and the throne awaits its new host. Five powerful Houses—including the court of the Imperial Palace—will determine who receives enough support to claim it. Influence the clans that dominate the territories during these turbulent times, and build the strongest path to victory.

On your turn, play one of the two cards in your hand. When you play a clan card, activate the marker on the corresponding clan wheel by moving it to one of two adjoining spaces. Then perform the action shown on that space.

Genpei’s standout feature is its action-chain system. Some actions let you draw a card, and whenever the drawn card is part of an action, its clan marker is activated as well. With careful planning, one card play can lead to a sequence of actions that brings you closer to victory.

• Play clan cards from a hand of two cards.
• Move clan markers on their corresponding wheels.
• Chain actions when cards are drawn during play.
• Place influence tokens to gain the support of the Houses.

Easy to play but hard to master, Genpei rewards skillful decisions and thoughtful timing. The player who receives support from the most Houses, including the House of the Emperor, is declared the new Emperor and wins the game.