In Edo, you step into the shoes of a daimyo in feudal Japan, around the 1500s. Your mission? To serve the shogun by constructing fortresses, trading posts, and houses in and around Tokyo. Each player starts with five samurai tokens and three action cards, which are central to your planning. Think of it this way: each card has four possible actions, and you choose which ones to use and in what order, programming them onto your personal player board.

On your turn, you execute the actions you've planned, moving your samurai across the map to gather resources like rice and wood, or to build in the cities. But watch out: moving samurai costs money (ryo), so it's wise to optimize your routes! Some actions give you a boost with free movement, others allow you to recruit more samurai or acquire extra action cards, giving you more options down the line. Building in cities consumes resources but earns you points and cash. And pay attention: if multiple players build in the same city, the money is split, with those who arrived first getting the larger share. There's also a traveling merchant for those looking to buy extra points or resources. The game ends when someone reaches 12 points, and then it's time to tally everything, including leftover money, to see who was the best manager!

Edo features separate game boards for 2-3 and 4 players, ensuring the experience adapts well to the number of participants. It's a game that demands good planning and a touch of luck when executing simultaneous actions.