Game Info
Year
2026
Players
2
Age
10+
Playtime
30 min
Collection
Your Tier
Loading…
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
Two-player asymmetric strategy game where a ninja player attempts to steal five relics from a samurai player using hidden movement and deception mechanics
Featured Videos
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 6
This page: 6
Sentiment:
pos 5 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–6 of 6
Video pSUR2QiSKIk
Game Night Picks - Pair Of Dice Paradise Top 10 List at 14:47
video_pk 81665 · mention_pk 203845
Click to watch at 14:47 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game, which is Okay, this has been around for a decade, but recently the game has seemed to be on a campaign to reintroduce and revitalize itself with a revised core set, which introduces several quality-of-life improvements for ease of play, support for up to four players with just a single copy of the game instead of having to get multiple copies for four players, plus new player cards, new investigators and mechanisms, better organization for storage, and an improved rulebook while still remaining 100% compatible with all the game's previously published material, which there is a lot of.
- Mindbug is a two-player card battler where powerful creatures, replete with game-warping abilities, do battle, including the mindbugs themselves, which can be used to immediately take control of an opponent's creature.
- Nippon Zaibatsu is a fast-paced economic game that's full of challenging decisions for one to four players, set during a crucially important time in Japanese history when the empire sent emissaries to foreign nations to bring in technicians and scholars from the west to build and work on a network of railroads to power a rapid industrial revolution.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8sojGpO2SI4
Brains On Games Review at 0:13 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81062 · mention_pk 199368
Click to watch at 0:13 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Thematically excellent with a strong ninja vs. samurai element.
- Great table presence and art style.
- Tense two-player duel with hidden movement, deduction, and bluffing.
- Interesting tension for such a short game.
- Good entry point for hidden movement games.
- Has staying power and replayability.
- Approachable for kids but enjoyable for adults.
Cons
- Two-player only.
- Cannot play solo or multiplayer.
Thematic elements
- ninjas trying to steal relics guarded by a samurai
- a mansion
Comparison games
- Run
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action programming — Players start with three cards, each having an action and movement, and choose cards face down to program their turn.
- Asymmetric gameplay — Each player has a very asymmetric role and gameplay experience, with different card designs for actions and movement (ninja moves then acts, samurai acts then moves).
- bluffing — Players can bluff about their intentions, especially regarding which floor will trigger an alarm.
- Deduction — Both players need to deduce the other's movements and plans based on limited information.
- Hand Management — Players manage a hand of cards that dictate actions and movement, and also manage equipment pieces which are single-use.
- Hidden Movement — The ninja's location is hidden, and players use deduction and bluffing to track their opponent.
- Modular Board — Everything is randomized at the start of the game, creating a different setup each time.
- Set Collection — The ninja's goal is to steal five relics (vases).
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Castle Nightingale is a tense stealth duel with ninjas trying to steal relics from a mansion guarded by a samurai.
- Thematically this is a an excellent game.
- It really is a strategic duel where that planning is very important and deducing what the other player is going to do is very important, too.
- My second favorite hidden movement game is this one.
- The downside here is that it is a two-player game. It's two-player only. You can't play solo, and you can't play it multiplayer.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video buEbTgN-9XM
Review at 0:16 sentiment: positive
video_pk 66183 · mention_pk 160861
Click to watch at 0:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Great head games and bluffing
- Lots of tension and intrigue
- Very asymmetric gameplay
- Randomized board adds replayability
- Interesting abilities and strategic options
- Bruno Cathala is a favorite designer
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to many abilities
- Not ideal for first-time players seeking an immediate great experience
- Requires multiple plays to fully grasp all mechanics and strategies
Thematic elements
- stealing treasures as a ninja while avoiding capture by a samurai
- a castle
Comparison games
- Mr. Jack Pocket
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action card drafting — Players have a hand of action cards specific to their role.
- Asymmetric play — The two players have different roles, abilities, and win conditions (ninja vs. samurai).
- bluffing — Players use deception and psychological tactics to mislead their opponents about their intentions and moves.
- Hidden Movement — One player (ninja) moves secretly, while the other (samurai) tries to deduce their location.
- Programming — Players select action cards in advance to determine their moves and abilities.
- Set Collection — The ninja needs to collect a certain number of gold vases to win.
- variable board setup — The game board layout is randomized each game, with different tile placements and orientations.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Grail games are games that you've always wanted but are no longer in print and very hard to find.
- This is programming and bluffing with a hidden movement feel.
- The crux of the game is really in these abilities.
- Don't be fooled. This isn't really hidden movement. It's more programming and bluffing.
- The biggest problem with the game is this game your first play, first couple of plays, even on each side, is going to be a bit of feeling in the dark because unless you study all of the abilities on both sides and know exactly the different things that they can pull, you won't really know like what they can do.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video EIgTl_4W7zE
The Dice Tower Review at 0:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 65693 · mention_pk 159448
Click to watch at 0:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Excellent production values (art, minis, acrylic tokens)
- Strong two-player asymmetry with deep, engaging decisions
- Tension and back-and-forth play
- Clear player aids and iconography
Cons
- Not immediately intuitive; learning curve present
- Could be challenging to teach for casual players
Thematic elements
- asymmetric pursuit and defense, stealth, traps, and relic treasure
- Samurai defend a castle against ninjas infiltrating through secret passages and booby-trapped floors
- competitive tactical skirmish with hidden information and deception
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Asymmetric win conditions — Ninjas win by collecting five relics; samurai win by capturing all ninjas or exhausting escape options.
- footprint tokens and ninja re-entry — Ninjas start from footprints and, when captured, are replaced by new ninjas; starting positions can shift.
- Hand Management — Players draw new cards and use token-backed effects; tile backs provide various actions.
- hand management and draws — Players draw new cards and use token-backed effects; tile backs provide various actions.
- Nightingale tokens — Special ability tokens that influence play and cycle between sides, impacting strategy.
- Programmed movement — Players select and reveal movement cards in sequence to determine how their pieces will move.
- Programming — Players select and reveal movement cards in sequence to determine how their pieces will move.
- relics and vases — Ninjas attempt to steal relics hidden in vases; relics are scored when collected.
- secret passages and trap doors — Ninjas use secret passages to enter; samurai place closed-door trap tiles that can affect movement.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Castle Nightingale here is a winner.
- Eight out of 10.
- A wonderful two-player game, and one I very much recommend.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video -_1L44nEdII
The Dice Tower Discussion at 13:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 38438 · mention_pk 115732
Click to watch at 13:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Two-player asymmetric duel
- Thematic art and design
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- That's why I'm not an actor.
- Top 10 reasons Joey's not an actor.
- Language independent.
- Three ninjas have slipped inside.
- You can be tattooed like me. Not really, but there's fake tattoos.
- This is not a drill. Come play test with us.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video -_1L44nEdII
The Dice Tower Discussion at 13:57 sentiment: positive
video_pk 38438 · mention_pk 115733
Click to watch at 13:57 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Castle Night and Gale
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- That's why I'm not an actor.
- Top 10 reasons Joey's not an actor.
- Language independent.
- Three ninjas have slipped inside.
- You can be tattooed like me. Not really, but there's fake tattoos.
- This is not a drill. Come play test with us.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–6 of 6