St. Louis Public Library Board Games @ Central

From the Librarian: Onitama is a quick, tactical game of strategy and tactics where players take turns moving their figures across a 5x5 board using a deck of five cards. You might like it if you enjoy abstract strategy games that are easy to learn but offer deep strategic possibilities.

From the Publisher:  An elegant and simple game of martial tactics

Carved into the crags of the mist-shrouded mountains of ancient Japan lies the Shrine of Onitama. It is a place of enlightenment and skill, a site dedicated to the spirits that guide the Schools of Martial Arts across the land. Masters of these schools hazard the journey to Onitama with their most promising disciples to meet within its hallowed walls and to prove their superiority in battle against the others.

In Onitama, players will vie to capture their opponent’s Master, or, traverse their Master across the board to their opponent’s Master’s starting position to win the game.  To do this, you will be armed with a handful of special and ancient maneuvers, presented on beautiful Tarot size cards, that manipulate the field of battle to your advantage.  Will you use the Dragon to overpower your opponent, the Horse to outmaneuver them, or the Cobra to strike quickly?

Game Details