7.9
rating
Ludopedia
7.2
rating
BGG
Our Verdict
Han is a historical strategy game that will appeal to those who enjoy route building and area control. It's like a great game with two faces, each with its own little secrets!
Highlights
- Two different boards
- Accessible yet deep strategy
- Interesting variants
- Good replayability
Keep in mind
- May feel familiar
- Scoring can be tricky
RECOMMENDED
Rules manual not indexed yet
Upload the PDF rulebook to ask questions about this game with AI.
Han transports you to ancient China in a game that draws from its older sibling, China, but with a special twist. Featuring two double-sided boards, each offering a slightly different experience and variant rules, the game promises replayability. In "Grenzstreitigkeiten" (Border Disputes), for 3-5 players, you'll vie for control of nine regions by placing houses and emissaries. Gameplay revolves around using cards to position your pieces, with strategies ranging from occupying house spaces that cross borders to dominating port cities. The scoring is a highlight: whoever has the most houses in a region takes it all, the second-place player gets a slice of the pie, and so on. And it doesn't stop there! Bonus points come from emissary majorities in adjacent regions and from forming sequences of houses along the roads. A variant with fortifications can double your points in strategic locations! Meanwhile, "Wege der Diplomatie" (Ways of Diplomacy), for 2-4 players, adds a touch of cunning with a marketplace that allows you to compete for emissary spots even in crowded regions. Prepare to manage your hand of cards wisely, build routes, and dominate the board. Han is an accessible strategy game, yet with enough depth to keep players engaged in pursuit of victory.
GALLERY
11 photos · from the community
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
2
REC
3
BEST
4
REC
5
REC
Loading playlist...
Finding best prices...
Prices unavailable at this time.
Price history — last 6 months (lowest new offer)
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
ABACUSSPIELE
Designer
Michael Schacht
Artist
Michael Schacht
Is Han a difficult game to learn?
The basic rules are quite straightforward, especially if you've played China before. The complexity arises from the strategic decisions and the different ways to score on each board.
How many players does Han support and how long does a game take?
The game is for 2 to 5 players, and a game typically takes about 45 minutes, depending on the player count and their familiarity with the rules.
What's the difference between the two sides of the board?
One side, "Grenzstreitigkeiten," is for more players (3-5) and focuses on border disputes and port cities with special house rules. The other, "Wege der Diplomatie," is for fewer players (2-4) and introduces a marketplace element to compete for emissary spots.
Do I need to have played the game China to understand Han?
It's not mandatory! Han uses the same gameplay foundation as China but is fully playable and understandable on its own. Knowing China might give a slight initial advantage, but it's not a prerequisite.
Does the game have a lot of player interaction?
Yes, the interaction is high! You'll be directly competing for area control, influencing majorities, and, depending on the board, vying for spots that other players also want.
Is Han a game focused more on luck or strategy?
Han leans heavily towards strategy. Although the cards in hand introduce an element of luck, managing them, positioning your pieces, and adapting to opponents' actions are crucial for victory.