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King and Assassins is an asymmetrical fantasy game of strategy and deception for two players. One player controls a vile king and his knightly lackeys who try to force their way into the castle through a mob of wrathful citizens. The other player controls the mob itself and – more importantly – three assassins who hide among the crowd hoping to kill or stop the ruler long enough for the people to deal with him using their bare fists. The king has only so much time before he is overpowered by his own subjects but using guile and swords of his guards he may be able to eliminate the assassins and hopefully escape into the safety of his palace.
The gameplay is based upon Action Cards which show a limited number of Action Points available to both sides. First, the king and his knights move around the board securing their position or eliminating dangers by pushing aside the crowd, then the assassins hidden among the crowd prepare for their lethal strike by killing guards or making the king's progress slower. It's up to the players to make the most of the Action Points available in the current round. The king's player wins if he manages to escape from the board using one of the exits or if his knights eliminate all the assassins. The assassins win if they kill the king by dealing him two wounds or stall him long enough so that the Action Card deck is depleted.
Choose your strategy, hide the assassins among twelve beautifully illustrated citizens and play two different scenarios, each with a multitude of choices, in this simple yet rewarding game. And remember, every familiar face may conceal a sharp blade!
- portable and quick to play
- easy to teach for two players
- tight tension and strategic depth for a light game
- asymmetric play creates meaningful decisions
- limited depth for players seeking heavier deduction games
- artwork not as strong as some similar titles
- asymmetric social deduction with crowd control and assassination
- A medieval-style city where a king and knights attempt to reach the castle while a crowd of citizens must be managed
- tense, quick-paced, deduction-driven
- Mr Jack
- Mr Jack in New York
- Le Phantom de l'Opéra
- Scotland Yard
- Letters from Whitechapel
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action point allowance (AP) system — Each round reveals action points for each side, limiting what can be done per turn.
- Action points — Each round reveals action points for each side, limiting what can be done per turn.
- arrest/handcuff mechanics — Knights can arrest citizens when allowed by the round card; this can hamper the crowd.
- asymmetric roles — King and knights versus citizens and assassins with different goals and abilities.
- asymmetric teams — King and knights versus citizens and assassins with different goals and abilities.
- Combat: Damage Based — Assassins can kill the king after revealing; the king can also be wounded and eventually removed.
- combat/kill mechanics — Assassins can kill the king after revealing; the king can also be wounded and eventually removed.
- Hidden Information — The assassins are known only to the citizens' player; citizens know who the assassins are.
- hidden roles — The assassins are known only to the citizens' player; citizens know who the assassins are.
- movement restrictions and speed changes — Knights and citizens move with defined costs; assassins become faster after revealing, with rooftop movement options.
- reversible board — Two city layouts add variety to setup.
- shove and crowd control — Knights can shove/crowd-control citizens to shape the flow of the crowd.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- King and Assassins is a good two-player game; it's portable, simple to teach, it plays quickly, and has depth and tension.
- it's an excellent filler for two players when you're short on time, yet it still packs strategic thinking into a short span.