Samurai Spirit (2014) Board Game

Samurai Spirit is a cooperative board game designed by Antoine Bauza and released in 2014 by Funforge. The game is set in feudal Japan, where players take on the roles of samurai defending a village from a horde of bandits. The game combines elements of push your luck and variable player powers to create a unique and challenging gaming experience.

Game Components of Samurai Spirit

52 ninja cards with varying strengths and penalties

Power tokens for each player

Village buildings and fences

Villager tokens

Boss cards introduced in later rounds

Rulebook

How To Setup Samurai Spirit

To set up the game, players start by shuffling the ninja card deck and drawing a set number of cards based on the number of players. Each player receives a power token and the village is set up with its buildings and fences. The objective is clear from the start: survive three waves of ninjas while keeping one building and one villager alive.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Draw and manage ninja cards

Pass power tokens to other players

Defend the village and its inhabitants

Manage resources carefully to survive waves of attacks

Game Objective

Survive three waves of ninjas

Keep one building intact

Keep one villager alive

Player Experience

Samurai Spirit is known for its brutal difficulty and high replayability. Players must work together, drawing ninja cards, passing power tokens, and making strategic decisions to protect the village. The game is simple in its mechanics but complex in its strategy, leading to a high level of tension and teamwork. Each action is vital, and the distribution of cards in the deck changes with each play, adding a layer of unpredictability.

Pros

High replayability due to changing card distributions

Strong cooperative gameplay that requires teamwork and strategy

Simple to learn but challenging to master

Each game is unique with varying card draws and outcomes

Cons

Extremely difficult, leading to frequent losses

Some players find it too luck-based

Can be frustrating for new players without guidance on the game’s nuances

Personal Thoughts on Samurai Spirit

Samurai Spirit is ideal for experienced gamers who enjoy cooperative challenges and are willing to invest time into understanding the game’s subtleties. It is not for the faint of heart, as losses are common, but for those who relish the thrill of strategic teamwork and the satisfaction of a hard-won victory. New players may find it overwhelming, but with patience and practice, it can become one of the most engaging cooperative games in their collection.

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.