One of my “good deeds” in the board game world is to help parents find games for their kids to play… either alone or as a family. (I stalk Game Sections in stores… it’s a thing, but it’s a harmless thing). In 2017 the King Domino Board Game won Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year), and after playing it dozens of times… I firmly agree with the panel’s decision. Kingdomino is one of those games that really sneaks up on you and hooks you into wanting to play over and over. It’s an easy game to learn, and a very easy game to teach. It can even be played with different levels of difficulty. Best of all, it’s a great game for the whole family… kids can play this alone or with adults, and adults can enjoy it without kids. Let me tell you a little more about the game, and why I love recommending Kingdomino.
Already Interested? Click HERE to Buy the King Domino Board Game
How to Play King Domino Board Game
In Kingdomino, you are trying to create a plot of land consisting of fields, forests, water and even desert terrain to surround your castle. The game plays much like Dominos… each tile you choose must connect with an existing tile… but in King Domino, the tiles connect to other matching terrain tiles. The size of the plots of terrain, combined with how many crowns each of these plots contains adds up to big points!
Start the Game with a small square piece and a castle. Four domino tiles are laid in a line from lowest points to highest face up. (note- the numbers on the back are only for placing them in order, they do not count for the final score). The first player chooses a tile, and places his meeple on it… the second does the same, and so on. Then another row of domino tiles is placed next to it… same thing, lowest to highest, and face up.
The backs of the tiles are numbered… this how you determine the order they are arranged in. The numbers do not affect points.
The player who is on the lowest tile takes the tile and adds it to their kingdom using a set of rules. Pieces must either match and line up to an existing terrain piece or to the center square. Then the player moves their meeple to a domino tile in the next line… any one they want.
Over time, the Kingdom begins to fill up.
When all pieces are placed, it’s time to do math.
Points are multiplied… number of squares of a specific connected terrain by crowns. So, for example, the Forest in this Kingdom is worth 16 points. There are 8 squares of forest, and 2 crowns. The forest piece on the other side is worth Zero points, because there are no crowns.
See how the 8 forest pieces all touch and there are a few crowns? That is how they score. The water pieces on the lower portion score 2 points (2 squares times 1 crown) while the water on the left does not score… no crowns.
Points are added up… the winner has the most points.
Note- as you get better at the game, you can start adding in bonus variations-
+10 points if you end up with your castle in the center of your kingdom
+5 points if you finish your kingdom without having to discard a tile that can’t be played
Kingdomino UPGRADES!
Upgrade your Kingdomino Set with these fun molded plastic castles and figures
Kingdomino: King Castles (4 Pieces)
Kingdomino Upgrade Set
King Domino Game Review
I admit, I’m a sucker for the Spiel des Jahres games. They tend to be a style of game that my family enjoys most. And Kingdomino is no exception. As I said, the basic game is easy to learn. But it’s not a boring “rinse and repeat” game. As you get more comfortable creating the perfect kingdom with your tiles, you also become more adept at stopping your opponents from setting up their perfect Kingdom.
Kingdomino is the kind of family game that includes the whole family… from the littles to the grandparents. Because it’s Dominos, even non-gamers can pick this one up.
It requires just enough thought to make a decent scoring Kingdom, but it can be played while chatting. I know some people love the “full focus” games that require the world to stop around them, but this family loves socializing at a game table. King Domino allows for that.
Another reason the game stays interesting is the variations on basic play. My partner and I play the King Domino board game as a two player game quite often. This allows us to go beyond the simple 5 by 5 grid up to a 7 x 7 grid… more pieces, more chances to score points. And frankly, I find the game more enjoyable that way.
One last plus… it travels well. This is the kind of game you can toss in your overnight bag to go along on a trip or cruise.
Kingdomino Components
The Components for the King Domino Board Game are pretty solid. Yes, the tiles and castles are made from Cardboard, but it’s a thick cardboard that won’t just bend or get damaged easily (unless the dog or a gummy baby get their hands on it… but that’s just how that goes… it’s also cheap to replace)
The Meeples that come with the game are cute little kings… and come in 4 colors… Green, Blue, Yellow and Pink.
The game insert is sturdy, and fits all the pieces perfectly. Since it’s used for the draw pile, I like that they’ve added a cut out to make pulling tiles easier.
Finally, the rule book is as straight forward and NON-CONFUSING as can be. The full instructions take only 3 pages… and that includes diagrams and examples. The only reason you get a booklet is because it’s in 8 languages.
Who Can Play the King Domino Board Game
The box for Kingdomino says 8 and up. Still, this is one of those games that a clever 5 year old would have no trouble with. The only thing that might slow the little ones down is the scoring… but you can make a house rule that eliminates multiplying (or start early on the times tables).
And on the other end, this is a great game to introduce older players to modern gaming. It’s similar enough to modern Dominos to seem familiar, but the changes in scoring make it interesting.
The whole game takes around 15 minutes to play, so it’s a wonderful game to play a few rounds of, or use it as a filler. I also find that it makes a great…”one last game before bedtime” game.
Kindomino Tile Dealer,/h3>
Sure, the box works fine for drawing tiles, but these holders are pretty darn cool….
Kingdomino: Dominoes Tiles Container (One Piece)
Where to Buy the King Domino Board Game>
Blue Orange Games Kingdomino Award Winning Family Strategy Board Game
Kingdomino GIANT VERSION
Perfect for Playing OUTDOORS in the Summertime! (Basically, the pieces are twice as tall as the standard game… so giant might be a bit exaggerated, but, it’s still lots of fun)
Kingdomino Giants EXPANSION
Add some Giants to the mix!
AboutGamer
Excellent blog post. I definitely appreciate this website.
Keep writing!