Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
The King of All Bards is a game of epic songs and dirty tricks for 3 to 6 players designed by Nikola R. Petrov and illustrated by Atanas Lozanski.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Simultaneous Action Selection
Choose actions secretly or concurrently before revealing them together.
Race
Compete to reach a destination, threshold, or objective before opponents.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Hand Management
Time and sequence a limited hand of cards to preserve future options.
Variable Player Powers
Each player has different abilities, restrictions, or strategic advantages.
Take That
Direct negative effects at selected opponents.
Read the full game description
The King of All Bards is a game of epic songs and dirty tricks for 3 to 6 players designed by Nikola R. Petrov and illustrated by Atanas Lozanski. All your life you’ve chased the ultimate recognition a bard could receive – the Bard Crown. The money, the fame, they all mean nothing… Okay, they are pretty nice and the fastest way to prove your worth. The time has come! An epic sing-off in all the town’s pubs and taverns is your chance to get your hands on that sweet prize... and the title King of all Bards! Rehearse your best songs, prepare your nastiest tricks and get ready to smash the competition! It's showtime! In The King of All Bards, you play the role of one of the eight distinct characters competing in a grand challenge. Your goal is to become the richest and most famous musician by amassing loyal fans and a fat purse of tips. To achieve this you have a repertoire of Song cards, as well as some more… dubious cards called Tricks. Playing the right songs for the right audience is crucial to building up a fan base and earning their gold, but employing the right tricks at the right moment can sabotage an opponent's performance and give you the upper hand. Light up the stage! This is medieval showbiz! —description from the publisher