Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin

Awaken Realms, CrowD Games, YOKA Games · Board game · 2024
1–4 · best 2 Solo 90–120 min Weight 3.3/5
9.7 rating Ludopedia
8.6 rating BGG
Buy
9.7 rating Ludopedia
8.6 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

If you love dark narratives and epic campaigns, Kings of Ruin gives you all that with stunning miniatures and polished mechanics.

Highlights
  • Immersive atmosphere
  • Unique characters
  • Innovative puzzle deck
Keep in mind
  • Steep learning curve
  • Partial translation
Rules manual not indexed yet Upload the PDF rulebook to ask questions about this game with AI.

About the game

What you do in a play session

Kings of Ruin arrives as the latest stand‑alone campaign set in the Tainted Grail universe, offering a self‑contained story that welcomes both series veterans and newcomers. The game introduces a fresh roster of heroes, each equipped with unique passive abilities, cards and powerful items that develop throughout the adventure. A modular board reveals new, bleak lands, while the revamped area‑movement system—now tied to the mysterious Wyrdness—creates unexpected routes and strategic choices. Encounters are resolved with an innovative puzzle‑card mechanic, letting the group opt for brute force, diplomacy, or clever solutions. Deck‑construction lets you fine‑tune your deck as you progress, and hand‑management forces careful card timing each turn. Dice rolls determine combat outcomes and skill checks, and event cards can shift the narrative dramatically. Although designed as a cooperative experience, a solo mode lets a lone player face the ruin alone. The story delves into a forgotten corner of Avalon ruled by figures such as Claudyne the Unknighted, Amberqueen Veneda, and Nonus, Bishop of the Deep, creating a dense, melancholic atmosphere. With a playtime of 90‑120 minutes, a moderate weight (3.3/5), and support for 1‑4 players, Kings of Ruin blends exploration, storytelling and combat, featuring detailed miniatures, thematic cards and a rich Arthurian‑mythology setting. Perfect for fans of epic campaigns, role‑playing decisions, and a world that evolves each session.

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

3 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

1–4 players
1 BEST
2 BEST
3 OK
4 OK

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Crowdfunding: Gamefound Game: Tainted Grail Mechanism: Campaign Games Misc: LongPack Games Theme: King Arthur / The Knights of the Round Table / Camelot
Publisher Awaken Realms, CrowD Games, YOKA Games
Designer Andrzej Betkiewicz, Konrad Sulżycki, Krzysztof Piskorski, Michał Lach
Artist Dawid Jurek, Ewa Labak, Jakub Dzikowski, Jakub Jagoda, Maciej Wierzchowski, Mateusz Bielski, Michael Peitsch, Michał Peitsch, Pamela Łuniewska, Patryk Jędraszek, Piotr Foksowicz, Piotr Orleański, Reliah A. Szade, Weronika Kordeusz

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

6,436owners
1,254wishlist
106want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

7 questions
How many players can play?
1 to 4 players, with a fully supported solo mode.
What is the typical playtime?
Between 90 and 120 minutes, varying with player count and experience.
How complex is the game?
Moderate weight (3.3/5); it requires attention to deck, dice and hand‑management rules.
Do I need to translate anything?
The Brazilian edition needs a near‑complete translation; the rulebook is still in English.
What components are included?
Detailed miniatures, modular board, event cards, puzzle cards, item tokens, dice and Wyrdness markers.
Do I need the other Tainted Grail games?
No, Kings of Ruin is a stand‑alone experience.
Can I run a long campaign?
Yes, the game is designed as a linked campaign where choices affect future sessions.

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