Zhanguo: The First Empire

About this board game

Zhanguo: The First Empire is a game for 1–4 players, with sessions lasting about 120 minutes, set during the birth of the vast Chinese empire in 221 B.C. Players support Qin Shi Huangdi’s ambitious plans while seeking to secure their family a place in the terracotta army.

The Emperor is determined to bring the former Warring States together and standardize the foundations of Chinese society and culture. His plans include imposing a single script and currency, establishing equal laws, building palaces, installing local governors, and beginning the construction of the Great Wall.

Each round, six cards are available to you. These cards can provide permanent support for the rest of the game or help obtain the Emperor’s approval for your actions. Choosing how to use this support is central to advancing your contribution to the empire’s cause.

• Support Qin Shi Huangdi’s plans for the newly unified empire.
• Use six available cards each round for lasting support or imperial approval.
• Contribute to the Emperor’s projects, including the Great Wall and the terracotta army.
• Compete to score the most points by the end of the game.

The empire’s grand vision extends beyond its walls. Ships are sent to distant lands in search of the legendary elixir of life, while a huge mausoleum is built to contain a scale reconstruction of the empire, guarded for eternity by an impressive terracotta army.

In Zhanguo: The First Empire, every contribution serves the Emperor’s cause. When the game ends, the player who has made the greatest contribution—and scored the most points—wins.