Shogun no Katana

About this board game

Shogun no Katana is a strategic Eurogame for 1–4 players, with games lasting around 180 minutes. Set in feudal Japan, it places you in the role of a swordsmith carrying on an ancient tradition of technique, discipline, and hard work.

Your goal is to create beautiful katanas for powerful local Daimyo and even the Shogun. Use your workers to choose which swords to make, gather the resources needed for your craft, and call on artists to add breathtaking decorations.

At the heart of the game is each player’s personal forge, where every katana takes shape. Its original sword-making mechanism lets you activate an entire row or column, allowing you to work on multiple swords at the same time. As you gain resources, add them to matching katanas and move those swords through the grid.

• Manage workers to select the katanas requested by local Daimyo.
• Collect resources by visiting the market, the palace, and other locations.
• Use artists to create striking decorations for your masterpieces.
• Place family members in strategic rooms of the Shogun’s palace to gain privileges tied to their rank.

Filling your forge with katanas can make each action more productive, but it also increases the chance that swords will hinder one another. You will need to develop your engine carefully, balancing opportunity and risk as you organize the grid and maximize your turns.

With its focus on resource management, forge planning, and the art of katana crafting, Shogun no Katana offers a detailed journey into the magical atmosphere of feudal Japan. Every decision helps shape the swords—and the legacy—you present to those who rule.