Stats:
No. of players: 2-4
Amount of time to play: 60 minutes
Age requirements: 12+
Set-up time: 10-15 minutes

Ninja Legend of the Scorpion Clan Rules Description:

Ninja Legend of The Scorpion Clan is a hidden-movement game set in the world of the Legend of the Five Rings. You play as either the Scorpion Clan infiltrating a Lion Clan compound or the guards defending it. Can you outsmart your opponent in this game of deception and investigation?

Ninja Legend of The Scorpion Clan is played very differently depending on which side you are playing. As the Scorpion player you control a ninja and a traitor. The Lion player controls the guards patrolling the compound.

The ninja and traitor each have a secret mission. To complete their missions they must search spaces within the Lion Clan castles. You mark your movements secretly on your map and must only reveal your location if a guard enters your space. However, the more you move the easier you are to hear. You have cards that will help you avoid detection and maneuver around the compound.

When you search in the castle you can only search up to two spaces. These must be spaces you just left in the current or previous turn. So to complete your missions you will have to give the Lion player some inkling of your whereabouts.

If you can find your secret mission and get off the map before 20 turns are over you win.

The guard player secretly first marks their map with the location of the possible six missions, traps and hidden sentries. You also get cards to begin the game. You may play two of cards each turn and they help you listen for the Scorpion player or move your guards. If you hear or find the ninja or traitor the alert level goes up. With a heightened alert level you draw cards and may play them before the two you may normally play each turn.

If the Lion Clan player can kill the ninja and traitor or if the Scorpion is player is unable to complete their missions and exit the map before 20 turns are up, the Lion Clan player wins.

A Quick Review of Ninja Legend of the Scorpion Clan:

Ninja Legend of The Scorpion Clan is a tense game of cat and mouse. As the Scorpion player you will constantly try to determine how far too move and where and when to search. Then you’ll sweat it out hoping the guards aren’t able to pinpoint your location.

The Lion player starts with little to no information and must quickly begin to deduce the whereabouts of the infiltrators. This is challenging and may be frustrating. If the Scorpion player can find their missions fast and without detection it is very hard for the Lion player to win.

Though not too complex once you begin to play it, Ninja Legend of The Scorpion Clan has a lot of rules and things you need to be aware of. You should sit don and read the rules then try reading them with everything out before the first time you play this. The components and art for this game are great. If you like theme this game has a ton.

The Scorpion Clan is more fun to play than the Lion Clan. I also think it works much better as a 2 player game. Adding more players is a nice touch but it just plays easier and smoother with two.

Ninja Legend of The Scorpion Clan is unique, tense and takes some thought and bluffing. If you like hidden-movement games, you should get it. Even if you are not a huge fan of them you should try Ninja Legend of The Scorpion Clan out. You might quickly become a fan.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 4 out of 6
Luck 3 out of 6
Player Interaction 5 out of 6
Replay Value 3 out of 6
Complexity 5 out of 6
Fun 4 out of 6
Overall 4 out of 6