The Great Wall

About this board game

The Great Wall is an asymmetric worker- and soldier-placement board game for 1–4 players, with a play time of about 180 minutes. Set in ancient China, it casts players as Generals defending the Great Wall against invading Mongolian hordes while competing to earn the most Honor.

Each player controls a clan led by a chosen Leader. Leaders determine resource production, starting resources, workers, and units, while the clans become increasingly different throughout the game. Players can hire Advisors with unique skills, creating distinct engines and strategic approaches.

The Mongolian Horde acts as a constantly attacking AI, creating pressure that can require players to cooperate at key moments. Every General must balance personal ambitions with the shared need to protect the walls and defeat the invading forces.

Gameplay unfolds over a series of Years, each divided into four Seasons:

• Spring: New barbaric hordes invade the fields before the Great Wall and prepare their assault.
• Summer: Generals prepare for the coming attack and mobilize their forces.
• Fall: Players take turns playing Command cards, resolving their effects, and activating Locations for various benefits.
• Winter: The final layer of Defense is activated before the hordes assault the Walls.

Across the game, players develop unique clan engines and interact with one another during every phase. Honor can be gained in many different ways, so each player must decide how to strengthen their position while responding to the ever-present Horde.

With its combination of asymmetric clans, worker placement, soldier placement, engine building, and cooperative pressure, The Great Wall offers a demanding contest of defense and ambition. At the end of the game, the player with the most Honor wins.