howtoplay.ro
King's Ransom

King's Ransom

Playford Games · 2013
215 min13+ yrs1.6/5 complexity7.1 BGG#18.525 BGG71CouplesStrategy
short answer

How do you play King's Ransom?

Byzantium circa 600 CE Take part in the explosive energy and corruption of holy Byzantium as described in the scandalous book “The Secret History” by Procopius.

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King's Ransom box art
official art · Playford Games

Byzantium circa 600 CE

Take part in the explosive energy and corruption of holy Byzantium as described in the scandalous book “The Secret History” by Procopius. Struggle to seize the throne,as you join the tale of royal intrigue, deceit and conflict.

Your chess tiles may be turned face down or moved through the court which is a six by three square area. Bluffing, and even luck lay before you as you reveal, move, capture, and place your tiles.

King’s Ransom is a 2-player strategy game pitting royal rivals against each other. Assemble your noblemen, strike from your secret chamber,then move through court to checkmate your opponent’s king. Light chess variant with luck, a prince, hidden tiles and bluffing.Using the basic mechanics of chess, there’s an additional layer of strategy due to each tile entering play hidden from the opposing player’s view. If you can set traps and lure your opponent into making mistakes, you might be able to snatch their King and ransom him for control of the kingdom!

Turn Order:

  • Flip a face-down tile so it is face up
  • Move a face-up tile
  • Announce check, if applicable
  • Place a new tile face down
  • Draw a tile from your chamber.

Game Components: 40 Tiles

🔬 game anatomy
Complexity1.6 / 5
BGG rating7.1 / 10
Vibe
CouplesStrategy
Language dependence
No in-game text needed
🌐 plays without English
Play time
15 min
Players
2
Recommended age
13+ yrs
BGG rank
#18.525

from Trișache · verified

Frequently asked questions

Q1How much does King's Ransom cost?
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Q2Where can I buy King's Ransom cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q3How do you play King's Ransom?
King's Ransom is a abstract strategy game, for 2 players, taking ~15 minutes, featuring area majority / influence. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about King's Ransom — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q4How many players does King's Ransom support?
King's Ransom is played by 2 players.
Q5How long does a game of King's Ransom take?
A game of King's Ransom takes about 15 minutes. (The first game doesn't count. It never counts.)
Q6What age is King's Ransom for?
King's Ransom is recommended from age 13.
Q7How complex is King's Ransom?
King's Ransom has a BoardGameGeek complexity of 1.6 out of 5.
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