King of Tokyo was the game I looked forward to most when I got wrapped into this wonderful board game community. Everything about the game seemed like a hit. It seemed quick and easy (essential for my non-gaming family). The theme was something anyone could enjoy. Was this the perfect filler I had hoped for?
Overview:
Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Version: English Second Edition
Number of Plays: 5
Contents:
1 x Rulebook
1 x Tokyo Board
66 x Cards
28 x "Counters"
8 x Dice
6 Monster boards and their corresponding cardboard figure
Energy Cubes
Components: (4/5)
With the second edition printing of the game, look good. The artwork on the board, cards, and characters is great. The cards, counters, and monsters are all your average quality and should last. Some may complain about the cardboard characters but for the cheap price of the game, I wouldn't expect anything more. Besides, the characters really serve no purpose other than marking your character. The dice are the highlight of the game to me. The are somewhat larger than your average dice and in the second edition they come engraved. They just feel right in your hand and seem like they will hold up well. The only real issue I have with the components are the monster boards. I love the look of them and I like how you can track your victory points and health with the wheel but it seemed that every couple of games someone bumped their wheel causing a huge argument. I don't know how they bumped it to the point of changing their score but it happened numerous times. The player didn't know what number they were truly on and it leads to a lot of shouting and headache. The actual game board is kind of unnecessary but it looks good and helps the game fir with the theme better.
Rulebook:(5/10)
King of Tokyo is an extremely easy game so it's no surprise the rulebook is very short at only 4 pages. The rulebook is full of colorful examples of gameplay which is a big plus. The problem is the examples and all the information seem unorganized. When I first looked at the rulebook it was overwhelming; not because the game is difficult (its not) but because there was so much information jumbled on the page. I can't really put a finger on what gave me this impression but it was just off. This game is easy and should have a rulebook that is quickly skimmed then tossed aside. Not one that gives you headaches even though you already have a grasp of how the game works.
Gameplay:(5/10)
For those of you who hate dice, this game is not for you. Like all dice games, your going to need good dice rolls to succeed. Luckily, all sides of the dice give you a benefit so you will generally be able to gain something positive each turn regardless of poor rolls. It may not be exactly what you wanted to roll but it's something. There is some subtle strategy about when to enter/exit Tokyo or when to try and roll for attacks/health/energy/victory points. Unfortunately, I found that my strategy was greatly dictated by my rolling. What ever I rolled first was generally what I would go after. The game just turned into a big game of multiplayer yahtzee (a much better version of yahtzee I might add). The game just didn't have the depth even for a filler that grips me. This coupled with the unpredictable dice made for a frustrating time. With that said, the game is decent for a quick bit of senseless fun with the right crowd. Unfortunately I just don't seem to have that crowd.
Replayability:(6/10)
King of Tokyo is a fairly quick little filler game. Although I have heard of people having entire nights dedicated to playing it time and again, I think the game works best as a filler. That game that comes out once per game night while waiting for others to arrive. Nothing less, nothing more. When used this way, the game has a fair amount of replayability but it is a game I would tire of quickly with multiple plays in one night.
Theme:(4/5)
The theme for King of Tokyo was a real hit with my gaming group. We all had characters we were drawn to and enjoyed beating each others characters into oblivion. In, the base game, the different characters play identical which takes away from the theme. It would be nice to have had special powers or something to differentiate characters (the expansion is said to solve this issue).
Final Thoughts:![]()
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I can see why King of Tokyo gets all the love it does. It's fast, mindless fun with a fun theme. With the right group it can be a blast. Without a group that embraces it, the game could fall flat. This isn't a game I would suggest on game nights but I wouldn't turn down playing it ever now and again when asked by someone else. Who knows, maybe one day I will get a game with and enthusiastic group that just clicks.
Tips?
This game is tough to mess up. The rules are simple. The only thing I would suggest is to not touch your monster boards unless you are changing the numbers. Any extra handling could lead to accidental number changes. And we all know that accidental number changes can lead to arguments, headaches, fights, divorce.... You get the picture.
Whats your favorite quick filler game? Let me know in the comment section below!
Overview:
Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Version: English Second Edition
Number of Plays: 5
Contents:
1 x Rulebook
1 x Tokyo Board
66 x Cards
28 x "Counters"
8 x Dice
6 Monster boards and their corresponding cardboard figure
Energy Cubes
Components: (4/5)
With the second edition printing of the game, look good. The artwork on the board, cards, and characters is great. The cards, counters, and monsters are all your average quality and should last. Some may complain about the cardboard characters but for the cheap price of the game, I wouldn't expect anything more. Besides, the characters really serve no purpose other than marking your character. The dice are the highlight of the game to me. The are somewhat larger than your average dice and in the second edition they come engraved. They just feel right in your hand and seem like they will hold up well. The only real issue I have with the components are the monster boards. I love the look of them and I like how you can track your victory points and health with the wheel but it seemed that every couple of games someone bumped their wheel causing a huge argument. I don't know how they bumped it to the point of changing their score but it happened numerous times. The player didn't know what number they were truly on and it leads to a lot of shouting and headache. The actual game board is kind of unnecessary but it looks good and helps the game fir with the theme better.
Rulebook:(5/10)
King of Tokyo is an extremely easy game so it's no surprise the rulebook is very short at only 4 pages. The rulebook is full of colorful examples of gameplay which is a big plus. The problem is the examples and all the information seem unorganized. When I first looked at the rulebook it was overwhelming; not because the game is difficult (its not) but because there was so much information jumbled on the page. I can't really put a finger on what gave me this impression but it was just off. This game is easy and should have a rulebook that is quickly skimmed then tossed aside. Not one that gives you headaches even though you already have a grasp of how the game works.
Gameplay:(5/10)
For those of you who hate dice, this game is not for you. Like all dice games, your going to need good dice rolls to succeed. Luckily, all sides of the dice give you a benefit so you will generally be able to gain something positive each turn regardless of poor rolls. It may not be exactly what you wanted to roll but it's something. There is some subtle strategy about when to enter/exit Tokyo or when to try and roll for attacks/health/energy/victory points. Unfortunately, I found that my strategy was greatly dictated by my rolling. What ever I rolled first was generally what I would go after. The game just turned into a big game of multiplayer yahtzee (a much better version of yahtzee I might add). The game just didn't have the depth even for a filler that grips me. This coupled with the unpredictable dice made for a frustrating time. With that said, the game is decent for a quick bit of senseless fun with the right crowd. Unfortunately I just don't seem to have that crowd.
Replayability:(6/10)
King of Tokyo is a fairly quick little filler game. Although I have heard of people having entire nights dedicated to playing it time and again, I think the game works best as a filler. That game that comes out once per game night while waiting for others to arrive. Nothing less, nothing more. When used this way, the game has a fair amount of replayability but it is a game I would tire of quickly with multiple plays in one night.
Theme:(4/5)
The theme for King of Tokyo was a real hit with my gaming group. We all had characters we were drawn to and enjoyed beating each others characters into oblivion. In, the base game, the different characters play identical which takes away from the theme. It would be nice to have had special powers or something to differentiate characters (the expansion is said to solve this issue).
Final Thoughts:
I can see why King of Tokyo gets all the love it does. It's fast, mindless fun with a fun theme. With the right group it can be a blast. Without a group that embraces it, the game could fall flat. This isn't a game I would suggest on game nights but I wouldn't turn down playing it ever now and again when asked by someone else. Who knows, maybe one day I will get a game with and enthusiastic group that just clicks.
Tips?
This game is tough to mess up. The rules are simple. The only thing I would suggest is to not touch your monster boards unless you are changing the numbers. Any extra handling could lead to accidental number changes. And we all know that accidental number changes can lead to arguments, headaches, fights, divorce.... You get the picture.
Whats your favorite quick filler game? Let me know in the comment section below!