by egrek
Claw, Heal, Bolt ...and VP.That's the three things you need to know! (okay, 4)
King of Tokyo is a fast and fun game – with just enough extra cards and plenty of interaction to other players to make it feel like you’re in a game with them/against them/crushing them. I say this as I compare it to the only other dice game I’ve played: Zombie dice, which I’d compare to being eaten by a zombie – not a pleasant experience.
But King of Tokyo? Well who doesn’t know about **edited** constantly being woken up and rampaging over Tokyo – he tried to save it most of the time, but in his defence, most people aren’t at their best when they’ve just been woken up! So Tokyo is the setting and being the king of monsters is the key!
You roll dice in a Yatzee style way to get sets, or spreads of rolls. Claws hurt other player/s (depending on where you are), hearts heal you (unless you’re in Tokyo), Bolts give you energy (save them up to grow/mutate!) and Finally numbers give you a chance to get Victory points! (The way to win the game, if you’re not monster enough to go for killing everyone else – that’s what a real monster would do).
Lets face it, last monster standing is a better victory condition than “I got 20 VP before you did”. Claw.
But as my friend (who often dies) would point out, you CAN win with VP.
The rules are simple. If you’re outside Tokyo, you attack the monster/s in Tokyo. This seems a bit unfair as monsters in Tokyo can’t heal? But, monsters in Tokyo attack EVERYONE outside of Tokyo! Mass claws = good.
So the first player is at a disadvantage (roughly) as he has the only turn where someone’s not getting hurt. So often first goes are trying to avoid claws. Once a claw is rolled (at the end of the turn – you have 3 rerolls of any dice you want) the monster enters Tokyo. From then on somone’s is being attacked with every claw rolled.
So strategies, there are some to choose from, as well as it being slightly decided by what you roll. You can try and claw others to death, you could save up for mutations, most will heal when wounded (them claws hurt!) or you could even, if you don’t like fighting, go for a VP win… And if you hit Tokyo, they could always leaves which means you go in! Swap places!
Otherwise stock up on the bolts for energy cubes which can buy you mutations, upgrades (and VP) I’ve had a son who won the game for me, others have had shrink rays , seeing the future or two heads! All help and all are fun!
A recommended quick game, I've not found anyone who has played it, not happily play it again.
I’d say you need at least 3 or more players, (the game dynamic relies on Tokyo being outnumbered) but eventually you’ll get down to 1-1 fighting!