King of Tokyo Board Game Review
King of Tokyo, designed by Richard Garfield and published by IELLO in 2011, delivers a fast-paced dice-rolling experience where giant monsters battle for control of Japan’s capital. This family-weight game supports 2-6 players, ages 8 and up, with sessions lasting around 30 minutes. The game has earned numerous awards including the 2012 Golden Geek Best Family Board Game and maintains a solid 7.1 rating on BoardGameGeek.
King of Tokyo Game Overview
Players take on the roles of mutant monsters, gigantic robots, and strange aliens all competing to become the one true King of Tokyo. The goal is straightforward: reach 20 victory points or be the last monster standing after eliminating all opponents.
The game blends push-your-luck dice rolling with light strategic decisions. Each turn involves rolling six custom dice up to three times, Yahtzee-style, to attack rivals, heal damage, collect energy for power cards, or score victory points directly.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Designer | Richard Garfield |
| Publisher | IELLO |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Players | 2-6 |
| Age Range | 8+ |
| Playing Time | 30 minutes |
| Game Type | Dice Rolling, Fighting, King of the Hill |
| Complexity Rating | 1.48 / 5 (Light) |
What’s in the King of Tokyo Box
The game comes with quality components that match its playful monster theme. Everything fits neatly in a well-designed box insert.
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Game Board (Tokyo City/Bay) | 1 |
| Custom Black Dice | 8 |
| Power Cards | 66 |
| Monster Boards | 6 |
| Monster Standees with Stands | 6 |
| Energy Cubes | 50 |
| Effect Tokens | 28 |
| Rulebook | 1 |
The engraved dice replaced the original painted versions after early editions showed wear issues. Current printings use durable engraved symbols that hold up over many plays.
King of Tokyo Pros and Cons
Pros
- Quick 30-minute playtime keeps sessions from dragging
- Simple rules allow new players to join within minutes
- Power cards add variety and strategic depth
- Monster theme appeals to both kids and adults
- Scales well from 2 to 6 players with Tokyo Bay space
- Satisfying dice-chucking delivers tension each turn
Cons
- Player elimination can leave someone watching for 15+ minutes
- High luck factor may frustrate strategy-focused players
- Two-player games feel less dynamic than larger groups
- Card draw can create power imbalances
How to Play King of Tokyo
Setup
Place the game board centrally. Each player selects a monster and takes the matching standee and board. Set health dials to 10 and victory points to 0. Shuffle power cards and reveal three face-up. Place energy cubes and tokens within reach.
Turn Structure
On your turn, roll all six dice. You may reroll any number of dice up to two more times, keeping whichever results you want after each roll. Once satisfied or out of rerolls, resolve all dice in any order.
Dice faces show claws (attack), hearts (heal), lightning bolts (energy), and numbers 1, 2, or 3. Rolling three matching numbers scores that many victory points, plus one additional point per extra matching die.
Attacking and Tokyo
Claw results deal damage. If you’re outside Tokyo, you hit whoever occupies Tokyo. If you’re inside Tokyo, you hit all monsters outside. The monster in Tokyo earns 1 VP for entering and 2 VP at the start of each turn they remain.
The catch: monsters inside Tokyo cannot heal using heart dice. When attacked while in Tokyo, you may yield and swap places with your attacker. This creates a push-your-luck element around holding territory versus preserving health.
Winning the Game
Reach 20 victory points to win immediately. Alternatively, eliminate all other monsters by reducing them to zero health. Games with 5-6 players use both Tokyo City and Tokyo Bay spaces, allowing two monsters to occupy Tokyo simultaneously.
Where to Buy King of Tokyo
| Retailer | Notes |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Often available with Prime shipping |
| Noble Knight Games | New and used copies available |
| BoardGameGeek Market | Secondhand copies from collectors |
| Local Game Stores | Support local businesses; call ahead for stock |
| Target / Walmart | Sometimes stocked in board game sections |
The suggested retail price sits at $44.99. Several expansions exist including Power Up!, Halloween, and Even More Wicked for those wanting additional content.
King of Tokyo Game Mechanics
The core mechanism is dice rolling with a Yahtzee-style keep-and-reroll system. Players face constant decisions about which results to pursue based on current health, position, and available power cards.
The King of the Hill mechanic creates natural tension. Occupying Tokyo rewards victory points but paints a target on your back. Every other player attacks you, and you cannot heal. Timing your entry and exit from Tokyo separates good players from eliminated ones.
Power cards purchased with energy cubes introduce asymmetry. Some provide permanent abilities like extra dice or armor. Others offer one-time effects. Card availability changes each game, preventing repetitive strategies.
Who Should Play King of Tokyo
Families with children 8 and older will find this game hits the sweet spot of accessible rules and genuine decisions. The monster theme resonates with younger players while the push-your-luck elements engage adults.
Groups seeking a light warm-up game or party closer will appreciate the quick setup and playtime. King of Tokyo works well when you have 30 minutes and want something more interactive than a filler card game.
Players who prefer low-luck strategic games should look elsewhere. The dice determine much of your fate, and elimination means watching from the sidelines. Those who dislike direct conflict may also want to consider cooperative alternatives.
Fans of Yahtzee wanting more theme and interaction will find King of Tokyo scratches that itch. It shares DNA with classic dice games while adding monsters, powers, and direct combat.
FAQ
Is King of Tokyo good for beginners?
King of Tokyo works exceptionally well for beginners. The rules take about five minutes to explain, and the dice-rolling mechanics feel familiar to anyone who has played Yahtzee. Children as young as 8 can grasp the strategy while adults remain engaged.
How long does King of Tokyo take to play?
Most games finish within 30 minutes. Setup takes under five minutes once players know the components. Larger groups may push toward 45 minutes, while two-player games often conclude faster. The pace keeps sessions from overstaying their welcome.
What’s the best player count for King of Tokyo?
Four players hits the sweet spot, balancing chaos with meaningful decisions. Three works well too. Two-player games lack the dynamic “who controls Tokyo” tension, while six-player sessions can drag with early eliminations. The Tokyo Bay space helps larger games.
Is King of Tokyo worth buying?
For families and casual gaming groups, King of Tokyo delivers solid value. The components hold up, the gameplay stays fresh across sessions, and expansions extend longevity. Strategic gamers seeking depth should consider other options, but as a light game it earns its shelf space.
What games are similar to King of Tokyo?
King of New York offers a more complex take on the same formula with building destruction. Dice Throne provides similar dice combat with unique character powers. For pure dice games, Sagrada and Roll for the Galaxy share the satisfying dice selection without direct conflict.
