The King's Will

In The King's Will each game kicks off in 962 AD, the year Otto the Great becomes Holy Roman Emperor. You play as a duke whose palaces are visited by the itinerant monarch. Your goal? Uncover, over four rounds, the secret wishes of the king while also setting your own scoring criteria. Every session draws a different set of hidden victory conditions, keeping each playthrough fresh and unpredictable.

The core mechanic is action drafting: all players simultaneously pick cards that dictate what they can do that turn – expand territory, boost agricultural output, build factories, or fulfill specific royal demands. Because actions are resolved synchronously, downtime for non‑active players is virtually eliminated, keeping the game brisk.

The components shine – wooden pieces for fields, factories, castles and resources feel solid and tactile, pleasing both collectors and tactile‑oriented gamers. After the four rounds each duke tallies points based on the secret conditions they managed to satisfy and according to the personal scoring goal they chose at the start. The ducal who best aligns his moves with the king’s desires wins.

With a weight of 3.2/5, the game is approachable for newcomers to medium‑complexity titles, yet offers enough depth for seasoned players who enjoy adapting to hidden objectives. It blends medieval flavor, resource management and a dash of deduction into a satisfying tabletop experience.