Shogun (1986 board game)

2025-10-20T15:49:46Z

2001:56B:9FE9:B90C:31:826C:DDEA:6643: /* Publication history */

{{Short description|Fuedal Japan-theme board game}}
{{Italic title}}
{{for|the 2006 Dirk Henn boardgame|Shogun (2006 board game)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox game
| name = ''Shogun''
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| image = Shogun mb game cover.jpg
| image_size = 250
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| other_names = ''Samurai Swords'' <br> ''Ikusa''
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| designer = Michael Gray
| director =
| illustrator = Steve Argyle
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| publisher = [[Milton Bradley Company|Milton Bradley]]
| date = {{Start date and age|1986}}
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| genre = [[Board wargame]]
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| players = 2–5
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| playing_time = 240'–360'
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| ages = 12+
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'''''Shogun''''' is a [[board wargame]] set in feudal Japan, first released in [[1986 in games|1986]] by game maker [[Milton Bradley Company|Milton Bradley]].

==Publication history==
'''''Shogun''''', designed by Michael Gray,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.costik.com/justice.html
| title=Simple Justice
| publisher=[[Greg Costikyan]]
| accessdate=2009-08-26}}
</ref> was first released in 1986 by [[Milton Bradley Company|Milton Bradley]] as part of their [[Gamemaster (board game series)|Gamemaster]] series. It was renamed to '''''Samurai Swords''''' in its first re-release (1995) to disambiguate it from other games with the same name (in particular, ''[[James Clavell's Shogun]]'', a wargame with a similar theme, released in 1983), and renamed again to '''''Ikusa''''' in its 2011 re-release under [[Hasbro]]'s [[Avalon Hill]] banner. For the 40th Anniversary Edition (2026), the game is being released a 4th time by Avalon Hill and Renegade Games Studios. It will also be renamed, '''''Ikusa: Samurai Swords'''''. This latest edition transforms this classic into a true collector’s masterpiece, featuring upgraded components, stunning new artwork, premium-quality pieces and more.

==Gameplay==
Set in feudal Japan, two to five players take control of a fictional warlord and pit their armies against one another in hopes of winning the title Shogun.

Each player controls a number of [[daimyō]], or generals, who command an army. Other forces on the board represent militia and garrisons. Players have the option of hiring [[ronin]] (mercenaries). There is a [[ninja]], principally used as an assassin against enemy daimyō. Units include [[samurai]] swordsmen and bowmen, and [[ashigaru]] spearmen and gunners.

Income, called [[koku]], is derived from control of territories. Players attempt to destroy their rivals in battle and seize their territories. Some interesting features include the orchestration of armies in battle, the emphasis on generals (who gain levels, much like [[roleplaying game]] characters), and the unpredictable element of ronin placement.

The game uses six twelve-sided [[dice]]. The trays for units are designed to resemble Japanese fortresses, and each player receives a small [[katana]] (to display the order in which players take their turns).

==Reception==
''Shogun'' was awarded the [[Origins Award]] for "Best Pre-20th Century Boardgame of 1987" and "Best Graphic Presentation of a Boardgame of 1987".<ref name="originsawards">{{cite web| url = http://www.gama.org/OriginsAwards/OriginsAwardsWinnersThe1980s/The1987OriginsAwards/tabid/3230/Default.aspx| title = The 1987 Origins Awards| publisher = [[Game Manufacturers Association|The Game Manufacturers Association]]| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121216052415/http://www.gama.org/OriginsAwards/OriginsAwardsWinnersThe1980s/The1987OriginsAwards/tabid/3230/Default.aspx| url-status = dead| archivedate = 2012-12-16}}</ref>

[[David M. Ewalt]] of Forbes commented on the 2011 release of Ikusa: "The game formerly known as Samurai Swords (and before that as Shogun) gets another makeover. Still the same strategy classic where players compete to rule feudal Japan, but the box, board and pieces have been updated. Not cheap, but the redesign looks great and the game’s as fun as ever."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2011/09/06/ikusa-review-samurai-swords-shogun/|title=No Matter What You Call It, Ikusa Is A Classic|first=David M.|last=Ewalt|website=Forbes}}</ref>

In a review of the game as ''Ikusa'' in ''[[Black Gate (magazine)|Black Gate]]'', Scott Taylor said "Truly, it's a fantastic game, and that's the reason it's been around so long and still maintains viability. As for the newest version, I'd say it carries much the same properties as its predecessors, with beautifully updated art by [[Steve Argyle]] and Gonzalo Flores. A single knock on this version is the change from hard plastic play pieces to soft plastic, some of the bases becoming warped in packaging. Still, I'd give ''Ikusa'' four stars out of five and highly recommend picking it up for anyone who loves strategic warfare games."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2011/09/03/game-review-ikusa/ | title=Game Review: Ikusa – Black Gate | date=3 September 2011 }}</ref>

==Reviews==
*''{{ill|Backstab (magazine)|lt=Backstab|fr|Backstab}}'' #4<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/backstab-magazine-french-04/page/n53/mode/2up|title = Backstab Magazine (French) Issue 04}}</ref>
*''[[Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine]]'' v12 n8 (1988 08)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/Asimovs_v12n08_1988-08/page/n17/mode/2up | title=Asimov's v12n08 (1988 08) }}</ref>
*Best Games of 1988 in ''[[Games (magazine)|Games]]'' #94<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/games-94-1988-novembers/page/n61/mode/2up | title=GAMES Magazine #94 | date=November 1988 }}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*{{bgg|221|Shogun}}
*[http://www.gracefulboot.com/board_games/iShogun.html Rules of Shogun]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110516110446/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/prod/ikusa Wizards of the Coast/Avalon Hill ''Ikusa'' product page]

{{Milton Bradley}}
{{Gamemaster}}

[[Category:Board games about history]]
[[Category:Board games introduced in 1986]]
[[Category:Board wargames set in the Middle Ages]]
[[Category:Japan in non-Japanese culture]]
[[Category:Milton Bradley Company games]]
[[Category:Origins Award winners]]
[[Category:Sengoku period in fiction]]

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Shogun (1986 board game)