Kendo

About this board game

Kendo is an abstract strategy game for 2–4 players, played in about 30 minutes, in which samurai maneuver across a hex grid to escort their prince to the palace at the centre.

Each player controls eight figures numbered 1, 2, or 3. These numbers determine how many spaces a figure must move: the prince moves one space, samurai move two, and fighters move three. Figures may not jump over other pieces, move back to the space they came from, or move through the palace.

Landing on an opponent’s piece is a strike, removing that figure from the board. Striking an opposing prince eliminates that player from the round, although their remaining pieces stay in play as obstacles. Every player must move on their turn, making positioning and route planning central to the contest.

• Race your prince to the palace at the centre of the board.
• Use each figure’s fixed movement value to navigate the hex grid.
• Strike opposing pieces and create obstacles for your rivals.
• Score 5 bonus points for reaching the centre, plus the value of your surviving pieces.

The first prince to arrive at the castle can win the round, while the scoring system also rewards pieces that remain on the board. Play several rounds and the player with the most points wins.

First published in 1974 as Queen Bee, the design was rethemed as Kaiser, König, Edelmann in 1976 before appearing as Kendo in 1989. Known as the Samurai’s Favourite Game, Kendo became popular in Germany and was reprinted several times.