The White Castle Duel (EN)

Welcome to 16th-century Japan, under the shadow of the legendary Himeji Castle, where the arrival of Portuguese merchants disrupts the fragile balance between rival clans.

In The White Castle Duel, two clans face off head-to-head to earn the favour of the daimyō and dominate the White Heron’s Court. Each player controls six lantern cylinders, placing and retrieving them to trigger strategic actions: acquiring Influence cards, placing clan seals in the gardens or training grounds, moving their courtier through circles of influence, or trading with the Portuguese. These actions generate icons, flags, katanas, kabutos, and origami, each contributing to end-game scoring. The game is all about optimization, anticipation, and precise execution: every placement matters, every turn is a choice. Designed exclusively for two players, this version removes the dice from the original game and offers a smooth, refined action-selection system.

You’ll love The White Castle Duel if you enjoy two-player strategy games, engine-building mechanics that create satisfying chains of actions, and experiences where every move can tip the balance. If you’re looking for an intense, fast-paced (20–40-minute) duel rich in decision-making and almost no randomness, this game is perfect for you.

Interesting fact: This edition is a standalone two-player version from The White Castle series. According to the publisher, “there are no dice, no bridges, no clan members to place… it keeps the atmosphere but offers an entirely new game.”

The game was designed by Sheila Santos and Israel Cendrero (Llama Dice), well-known for their acclaimed strategy titles, and beautifully illustrated by Joan Guardiet. Their collaboration brings a refined aesthetic and strategic depth to a compact, duel-only experience.

Duration: 20–40 minutes
Number of players: 2
Age: 10+