Stats:
No. of players: 2
Amount of time to play: 20-30 min
Age requirements: 12+
Set-up time: 5 minutes

The Kingdoms of Crusaders Rules Description:

The Kingdoms of Crusaders is a card game for 2 players. You try to build armies that are stronger than your opponent’s armies by creating more sets of icons.

The Kingdoms of Crusaders is very straightforward and simple to play. To begin, you shuffle the deck and draw five cards.

On your turn you draw a card and play a card on one of five locations. You may only place four cards on each location.

Each card contains up to five symbols and you’ll want to play cards with as many symbols that match your previously laid cards as possible.

After each player has laid his 20 cards the game is over and you compare who wins each territory. You win a territory by having the most matching symbols as follows. A set of four is a regiment which beats a set of three which is a battalion which beats a company which is a pair.

If you are tied for the number of sets the more powerful units win. The icons on the top of the card are in order from weakest to strongest unit. If both players have the exact same sets then the player who laid their fourth card first wins that territory.

If you control three of the five territories you win.

A Quick Review of The Kingdoms of Crusaders:

The Kingdoms of Crusaders is a decent filler. There is some strategy in bluffing you true intentions, but since you have no idea what you’ll draw it is hard to have any no term strategy.

If you have played Battle Line or Lost Cities then you are probably familiar with The Kingdoms of Crusaders. Unfortunately I feel both those games are better than this one.

The artwork is nice and easy to understand. The rules are translated from Russian and although not perfect you can follow them easy enough.

I like The Kingdoms of Crusaders, but there are other games that are very similar and a bit more fun.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 2 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 2 out of 6
Replay Value 3 out of 6
Complexity 2 out of 6
Fun 3 out of 6
Overall 3 out of 6