Kingdom Builder

Queen Games, Devir, Enigma (Bergsala Enigma) · Board game · 2011
2–4 · best 4 45 min Weight 2.1/5
rating Ludopedia
6.9 rating BGG
How to Play Buy · from US$ 22.99
rating Ludopedia
6.9 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

Kingdom Builder is a fantastic pick for players who enjoy strategic placement and variable setups, offering a fresh challenge every time you play. Its core rule of adjacent building creates a satisfying puzzle.

Highlights
  • Highly variable modular board
  • Simple rules, deep strategy
  • Engaging settlement placement puzzle
  • Quick turns keep engagement high
Keep in mind
  • Can feel restrictive initially
  • Theme is somewhat abstract
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
Access Rules Guide

About the game

What you do in a play session

In Kingdom Builder, you are a kingdom builder, and your goal is to create the most prosperous empire by accumulating gold until the end of the game. The game unfolds on a modular board, which changes every game, ensuring you never play the same thing twice! The board consists of nine different terrain types, as well as special locations and castles. On your turn, you play a terrain card and, based on it, build three settlements on hexes of that type. The golden rule is: whenever possible, a new settlement must be built adjacent to one of your existing settlements. This simple but crucial rule defines much of your expansion strategy.

But it's not just about building! If you build near a special location, you gain an extra action token, which you can use from your next turn onwards. These extra actions are a real wild card, allowing for unusual moves and constructions, such as moving your already placed settlements, which can open up new opportunities or correct positioning. Building near a castle also earns gold at the end of the game, but most of your score will come from meeting the conditions of the three Kingdom Builder cards drawn for the game. These cards, from a total of ten, define the scoring criteria, such as earning gold for having settlements near water or for having the majority in a specific board sector. The combination of these scoring cards, special actions (four out of eight possible), and map terrain sectors (four out of eight) makes each game a unique and challenging experience!

Expansions

Published additional content

3 items

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

5 videos

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Rules manual — Kingdom Builder English · PDF
Download Manual

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–4 players
2 REC
3 REC
4 BEST

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Components: Map (Regional scale) Components: Wooden pieces & boards Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena Digital Implementations: BrettspielWelt Game: Kingdom Builder Misc: LongPack Games
Publisher Queen Games, Devir, Enigma (Bergsala Enigma), Evrikus, Lautapelit.fi, Rebel Sp. z o.o.
Designer Donald X. Vaccarino
Artist Oliver Schlemmer

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

31,909owners
3,650wishlist
396want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
How many players can play Kingdom Builder?
Kingdom Builder is ideal for 2 to 4 players, offering a balanced and fun experience in any of these configurations.
What is the average game length?
A game of Kingdom Builder typically takes between 45 and 45 minutes. It's quick enough to fit into almost any occasion, but with enough depth to be satisfying.
What is the complexity level of Kingdom Builder?
With a BGG weight of 2.071/5, Kingdom Builder is considered a light-to-medium complexity game. The rules are easy to learn, but strategy emerges from the variable combinations of scoring cards and special actions.
Are the components of good quality?
Yes, the game features a modular board made of regional scale map pieces and wooden pieces for the settlements, all of good quality to ensure durability and immersion.
Who is Kingdom Builder for?
It's perfect for anyone looking for a light eurogame with high replayability that rewards strategic adaptability. Great for families and groups of friends who enjoy territory building and tactical planning games without excessive complexity.
Does the game have expansions?
Yes, Kingdom Builder has several expansions that add new terrains, locations, special actions, and scoring cards, further increasing replayability and strategic variety.

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