Ninja Taisen (2014) Board Game

Ninja Taisen is a two-player board game released in 2014 by IELLO. Designed by Katsumasa Tomioka, the game combines dice rolling, rock-paper-scissors, and roll/spin and move mechanics to create a strategic and fast-paced experience set in a ninja-themed world. With beautiful artwork by Florent Maudoux and Shigeto Murata, Ninja Taisen offers players the chance to engage in intense battles while testing their tactical skills.

Game Components of Ninja Taisen

Game board

2 Player tokens and their respective character cards

16 Ninja cards

16 Action cards

1 Die (six-sided)

Tokens for health and initiatives

How To Setup Ninja Taisen

To set up Ninja Taisen, each player chooses a character and places their token on the starting space on the board. Players receive their character’s unique ninja cards and action cards. The deck of action cards is shuffled and placed within reach. Each player starts with a set amount of health tokens. The initiative die is used to determine the starting player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turn: Each turn, a player rolls the initiative die to determine the order of play.

Action Phase: Players can choose to move, use a ninja ability, or play an action card.

Combat Phase: If players are in the same space, they engage in combat, using action cards and ninja abilities to reduce each other’s health.

Objective: The goal is to eliminate the opponent by reducing their health to zero.

Player Experience

Ninja Taisen offers a fast-paced and strategic gameplay experience, emphasizing quick thinking and tactical decision-making. The game is relatively short, lasting about 30 minutes, which makes it a great filler game or a quick duel between friends.

Pros

Quick Gameplay: Games are short and action-packed.

Strategic Depth: Despite its simplicity, the game has considerable strategic depth.

Unique Characters: Each character has unique abilities, adding replay value.

Portable: The game is compact and easy to carry.

Cons

Limited Player Count: Designed for only two players, limiting group play.

Luck Element: The roll of the initiative die can introduce an element of luck.

Repetitive: Some players may find the gameplay repetitive after multiple plays.

Personal Thoughts on Ninja Taisen

Ninja Taisen is perfect for those who enjoy competitive, head-to-head games with a touch of strategy and luck. It’s an excellent addition to any board game collection, especially for fans of quick, intense duels. However, it may not be the best fit for groups larger than two or players seeking a game with more complexity and longer play sessions.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.