Onitama is a two player abstract strategy game where players take on the role of a Master, guiding their monk followers, attempting to defeat your opponent armed only with a handful of moves, your cunning and your wits!

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 manoeuvres, 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?

These special moves are not yours alone though. In Onitama, players will shuffle the deck of moves, dealing two moves to each player to begin a game. In addition, a 5th will be placed face up, to the side of the board. When it is your turn, you may choose to move any piece using your cards, however, the card you choose to use will then be exchanged with the card to the side of the board. This means your opponent will have access to that move, after their next! Can you out-think, out-maneuver, and out-wit your opponent?

On a 5x5 board, both players start with five pawns on their side, with the main pawn in the middle.

Each player has two open cards that each display a possible move for any of his pieces. There is a fifth card that cannot be used by either player. On a player's turn, he chooses one of his cards, moves one of his pieces according to the chosen card, then replaces the card he used with the fifth card. The other player then chooses one of his cards, moves accordingly, and exchanges that card with this fifth card — which is, of course, the card the first player just used.

Moving onto one of the opponent's pawns removes that pawn from the game. Taking the opponent's main pawn, or moving your main pawn into your opponent's main pawn's starting space, wins you the game.

With multiple moves to make every game unique, the speed, the grace, and the unique play style of Onitama truly makes this an Essential game for any gamer’s collection!

Onitama is the new game in the Dice Tower Essential line; games loved and adored by noted reviewer, Tom Vasel, that he believes are essential to every gamer’s collection.

Two Players
Ages 14 and up
Playing Time 10 minutes

It may not be possible to ship very heavy items outside of the Mainland UK.
Released: 19 April 2016