by bmhoman1
This is part twenty-five in a series of reviews that I am writing about the games that my family plays, why we love them and what you should know before making a purchase. I have three unique daughters, ages 14, 12 and 9 who love to play games with me, and a wife who sometimes likes to join in. We also have a new addition to the family: one of Kristin's co-workers, Marisa, is now living in our basement and she's made it her goal to play each and every one of my games. Who am I to argue with her? Finding games that we all enjoy can be a challenge, so I am constantly trying to introduce more games to the family to build a collection that we can all appreciate. Today's review:King of Tokyo
King of Tokyo is a very well streamlined dice game that is accessible and fun for most kids 6 and up. The younger ones may need a little help reading some of the cards, but they adapt pretty quickly to being able to know what each card means and how to use it.
Family Fun Factor:
Replayability:
Gameplay
In this game, each player is represented by a monster that is trying to be the King of Tokyo.
The theme is played out by pitting the all of the players outside of Tokyo against the 1-2 players that are in Tokyo and vice-versa. In a 3-4 player game, there is only ever one monster in Tokyo, but in a 5-6 player game there can be two players in Tokyo.
Players duke it out in classic king of the hill fashion until one player has 20 points or has eliminated all other opponents.
Do you rush into Tokyo and deliver the beat down to all your opponents, or do you stay outside of Tokyo where there's safety in numbers (and the ability to heal)? You be the judge in this fast-paced rush to be the king of the heap.
The Dice
The dice are used in a fashion similar to Yahtzee, where the player has a total of three rolls to get the results desired on their dice. There are six dice that are primarily used in the game, and two additional dice for when your monster grows an extra head (no really!)
Each die has six unique sides as shown in the image below.
Each of these sides has a unique function, described below:
Claws indicate an attack on all players outside of Tokyo if you are in Tokyo, or all players in Tokyo if you are outside of Tokyo.Hearts allow a player’s monster to heal one hit point each, but monsters can only heal when they are NOT in Tokyo.Lightning bolts gain players energy cubes that can be spent to obtain cards that have immediate or lasting effects. Players should not underestimate the importance of cards during play.The numbers 1-3 generate the labeled number of points for a player when they have at least three of a kind (e.g. three 3’s equals 3 points). If players have more than three of a number, they get one bonus point for each extra die showing that same value.The Cards
After a player has completed their dice rolls, hits are taken and/or healed, energy is gained and points are scored. At this point, players may spend energy to purchase one of the three face-up cards on the table or may spend two energy cubes to clear those and draw a new set to choose from. The energy cost of a card is found in the upper left hand corner of the card.
Cards can break some rules of the game, heal damage, cause damage, allow extra re-rolls and even provide additional dice on your turn. This is the strategy portion of the dice game and can give you an edge over your opponents and sometimes even win you the game!
Going to Tokyo
When the game begins, the first player to roll a claw goes to Tokyo. No ifs, ands or buts about it. You are now the center of attention and the one monster that everyone wants to kill.
Life is Hard in Tokyo. Everyone is out to get you, either trying to kill you or chase you out of Tokyo. What's worse is that any damage you take while in Tokyo cannot be healed until you leave. What's a monster to do? Get out while you can (or at least before you die).
Whenever you are in Tokyo and take a hit from another monster, you have the option to leave Tokyo at that time. This won't get you any points at the start of your next turn, but it may keep you alive long enough to heal some damage and live to fight another day. Don’t worry though, whoever it was that beat on you and caused you to leave Tokyo must now take your place as the new punching bag... er, I mean new King of Tokyo. If, instead, you choose to stay in Tokyo, you will have to deal with the next monster taking pot shots at you, and possibly killing you. If you do get killed while in Tokyo, the monster who killed you takes your place as king (after he throws your rotting corpse into the sea, of course).
So why, exactly, would anyone want to go to Tokyo? I’m glad you asked. When a monster goes to Tokyo, they get 1 point. When a player starts their turn in Tokyo, they gain another 2 points. This is where about half of your in-game points will likely be earned. Remember, though, your monster can’t heal when they are in Tokyo, so if you get beat up pretty bad, you’ll need to leave in order to regain some hit points. Knowing when to leave and who to force into Tokyo are two of the strategic elements of this game.
So what’s so great about this game?
So much fun for what it is – I didn’t know if I would like this game that much, or if my family would. I’m definitely glad I gave it a shot, as this is one we have played a lot!
Lots of replay value – Even after 20+ plays, I still don’t get tired of giving my family a good beat down from the middle of Tokyo. I usually win this one, so I’m the one they love to gang up on. Also, there are a few expansions out there, so if you do get bored with the base set, you do have some options.
Plays up to six with the base game – One of the problems we have with some games (Ingenious, Oregon, etc.) is that not everyone in the family can play at the same time. Having a family game that suits larger than average families is a big plus in my book.
Inexpensive – You get a lot of bang for your buck here. Right now I am at about $1/play in terms of value, and that number is steadily decreasing (a good thing). 
Portable – This is about half the size of some of the bigger box games, thus making it easier to pack to take on vacations and trips. I wouldn’t take it to a restaurant, but it would work pretty well on a picnic table in a park or at a campsite.
Durable – The monsters and their corresponding counter wheels are made of thick, durable cardboard. The dice are oversized and awesome, and the cards are made of good stock. Clearly, this game was meant to withstand the pummeling that kids will give it.
Available – I have recommended a lot of games in my review series that are either out of print or in rare supply. This one is definitely available and might even be found in some major retailers.
Expandable – There are a few expansions available for this that add some complexity and fun to an already great game.So what’s not so great about this game?
The longer a game goes, the less fun it becomes. Sometimes you have a group of people who don’t want to attack each other. This can make a 20 minute game take an hour when you play with 6 people and subsequently make you not want to play again for a long time. Make sure you explain the intent of the game up front and help players understand that this is meant to be a quick, fun, beat the snot out of each other kind of game and that turns shouldn’t last more than a minute each.
While the game is durable, the plastic stands for the monsters can cause the cardboard of the monsters to fray a bit. This can be avoided by placing a little piece of scotch tape over the bottom cardboard edge, if your component OCD allows it.
Not for everyone. I have seen conflict-averse people enjoy this title, and I have seen them turtle and make the game take forever. Know your crowd before playing.So what are our thoughts?
Brian – A really fun, fast game that I can play with my whole family plus one more when one of my girls has a friend over. I love the King of the Hill mechanic that is not represented in any other game that I own. My rating: 8
Kristin – I actually don’t mind playing this one. I don’t like learning lots of new games, but I didn’t mind learning this one and I especially didn’t mind that the game doesn’t take forever. It helps that I like dice games, too. Kristin’s rating: 7
Beka (14)– This is lot’s of fun. I like giving my dad the beat down! Beka’s rating: 7.5
Lindsay (12)– This one is pretty good. At least it doesn’t take forever and I get to get my aggression out. Lindsay’s rating: 6.5
Abby (9)– I love being Alienoid! That’s my guy! I just played this with my cousin and my dad 9 times over Thanksgiving! It’s awesome! Abby’s rating: 9
Overall Rating: This is a very fun and engaging game with the right group of people. The first time I asked the family to play this, we played three games in a row, at my wife’s request! That was a big win in my book! As long as players are taking quick turns, the pace and excitement of the game builds as time goes by, and players who are eliminated during play aren’t out of the fray for long. The game has simple mechanics that are easy for younger players to pick up on, while not skimping on the fun factor for adults and kids alike. This is a must have for any family that enjoys a little take-that style of play. Family rating – 7.6