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Samurai
Fantasy Flight Games · 1998
2–430–60 min10+ yrs2.4/5 complexity7.5 BGG#285 BGG17,6 KStrategy
⚡ short answer
How do you play Samurai?
The main objective of Samurai is to gain the most influence over the three different factions in Japan: rice farmers (represented by rice fields), the priesthood (represented by Buddha figures), and warriors (represented by Japanese helmets). Players achieve this by strategically placing action tiles to surround and claim these figures.
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the rules in 60 seconds▶ auto · 1/6
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01
Setup
Players take turns placing one figure of any type in a village or city until all villages and cities are occupied.
The rules, step by step
Setup
The game begins with players taking turns placing one figure of any type (rice farmers, priesthood, or warriors) into an unoccupied village or city on the game board. This continues until all villages and cities have at least one figure. Players then choose five action tiles from their supply and place them behind their screen. For initial games, it's recommended to shuffle all tiles and draw five randomly.
Objective
The main objective of Samurai is to gain the most influence over the three different factions in Japan: rice farmers (represented by rice fields), the priesthood (represented by Buddha figures), and warriors (represented by Japanese helmets). Players achieve this by strategically placing action tiles to surround and claim these figures.
On your turn
During a player's turn, they can play action tiles from their hand. There are two types of action tiles: those without a symbol and those with symbols. A player can play one action tile without a symbol, or any number of action tiles with symbols. The action tiles without symbols (Samurai, Ship, Rider) influence all adjacent figures. The action tiles with symbols (rice, Buddha, helmet) only influence figures of the corresponding type. There is also a special 'tile exchange' tile that allows a player to swap any two figures on the board, regardless of distance; this tile is then removed from the game.
Scoring
A figure is scored when all adjacent land fields around it are occupied by action tiles. The player with the highest total influence on that figure (sum of values from their placed action tiles) claims the figure and adds it to their personal supply behind their screen. If there's a tie for influence, the figure is removed from the board and not claimed by any player. Sea fields around a figure do not need to be occupied for scoring, but ship tiles placed on sea fields can contribute to influence.
Game end
The game concludes immediately when the last figure of any one type (rice farmers, priesthood, or warriors) is removed from the game board. At this point, all remaining figures on the board are scored. To be eligible for scoring, a player must have a majority of influence in at least one of the three categories. If a player has the sole majority in two out of the three categories, they automatically win the game. Otherwise, the player with the highest total score from claimed figures wins.
Tips
Players should carefully track who has claimed which figures throughout the game, as this information is public. Strategic placement of action tiles is crucial, not only to claim figures but also to deny opponents. The 'tile exchange' tile can be a powerful tool for changing the board state and securing majorities. Remember that figures claimed during the game are kept hidden behind player screens, adding an element of uncertainty to opponents' scores until the final tally.
game anatomy
Complexity2.4 / 5
BGG rating7.5 / 10
Vibe
Strategy
Language dependence
No in-game text needed
Play time
30–60 min
Players
2–4
Recommended age
10+ yrs
BGG rank
#285
from Trișache · verified
Frequently asked questions
Q1What is the goal of the game?
The main objective of Samurai is to gain the most influence over the three different factions in Japan: rice farmers (represented by rice fields), the priesthood (represented by Buddha figures), and warriors (represented by Japanese helmets). Players achieve this by strategically placing action tiles to surround and claim these figures.
Q2How do you set up the game?
The game begins with players taking turns placing one figure of any type (rice farmers, priesthood, or warriors) into an unoccupied village or city on the game board. This continues until all villages and cities have at least one figure. Players then choose five action tiles from their supply and place them behind their screen. For initial games, it's recommended to shuffle all tiles and draw five randomly.
Q3How does a turn work?
During a player's turn, they can play action tiles from their hand. There are two types of action tiles: those without a symbol and those with symbols. A player can play one action tile without a symbol, or any number of action tiles with symbols. The action tiles without symbols (Samurai, Ship, Rider) influence all adjacent figures. The action tiles with symbols (rice, Buddha, helmet) only influence figures of the corresponding type. There is also a special 'tile exchange' tile that allows a player to swap any two figures on the board, regardless of distance; this tile is then removed from the game.
Q4How is scoring calculated?
A figure is scored when all adjacent land fields around it are occupied by action tiles. The player with the highest total influence on that figure (sum of values from their placed action tiles) claims the figure and adds it to their personal supply behind their screen. If there's a tie for influence, the figure is removed from the board and not claimed by any player. Sea fields around a figure do not need to be occupied for scoring, but ship tiles placed on sea fields can contribute to influence.
Q5When and how does the game end?
The game concludes immediately when the last figure of any one type (rice farmers, priesthood, or warriors) is removed from the game board. At this point, all remaining figures on the board are scored. To be eligible for scoring, a player must have a majority of influence in at least one of the three categories. If a player has the sole majority in two out of the three categories, they automatically win the game. Otherwise, the player with the highest total score from claimed figures wins.
Q6What tips are there for beginners?
Players should carefully track who has claimed which figures throughout the game, as this information is public. Strategic placement of action tiles is crucial, not only to claim figures but also to deny opponents. The 'tile exchange' tile can be a powerful tool for changing the board state and securing majorities. Remember that figures claimed during the game are kept hidden behind player screens, adding an element of uncertainty to opponents' scores until the final tally.
Q7How much does Samurai cost?
No store is currently tracking Samurai. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q8Where can I buy Samurai cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q9How do you play Samurai?
Samurai is a abstract strategy game, for 2–4 players, taking ~30–60 minutes, featuring area majority / influence. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Samurai — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q10How many players does Samurai support?
Samurai is played by 2–4 players.
Mechanics & categories