Crownfell
Recruit and command a unique squad of skirmishing warriors to seize the crown.
We Heart Games
18 cards • 2 players • 15-45 minutes • ages 14+
Solo expansion available
Designed by Mike Berg. Art by Strega Wolf van den Berg.
The monarchy has crumbled. The realm is in chaos. Alliances are formed and shattered as the remnants of meagre factions contend for the seat of power.
*Playmat sold separately
Summary
Crownfell is a dynamic abstract strategy game played with eight cards on a 5x5 grid. Each card represents a character with unique movement and special rules.
In each game, players draft four out of a pool of 17 unique characters, resulting in a very different game each time. Their asymmetrical abilities and movement lead to surprising and dramatic moments. Capture all your opponent's pieces to win.
In Crownfell, nothing is permanent... including a strong lead. Move onto the centre space to rally your allies or resurrect the fallen. Captured cards can be revived from the discard pile by either player. In this game, defeated pieces can switch sides!
How to play
The goal is to capture all of your opponent's cards from the board.
On your turn, you can do one of three things:
1. Deploy
Place a card from your hand into your home row.
2. Move
Move a card on the board following the movement rules shown on the card.
3. Use an ability
Some cards have special abilities that let them do things like move other cards, or even throw fireballs.
What about that crown space in the middle?
If you move a card onto the crown space in the middle of the board, you perform one of three special rally actions:
1. Deploy
Immediately make a "free" deployment from your hand.
2. Revive
Take a card from the discard pile into your hand... even cards that originally belonged to your opponent!
3. Direct
Move another one of your cards one space in any direction.
That's about it!
Crownfell takes just a few minutes to learn. The dynamic interactions between the card's movement and abilities is where it really shines.
You can read the full Crownfell rules online
Full playthrough of a 2-player game:
It's like Onimata combined with Shogi, but portable.
Try it online
You can try Crownfell online, here!
Get the PnP version
You can get the printable version from PNP Arcade, on sale Nov 28 for Black Friday
Read the story of how Crownfell came to be
Crownfell Design Diary: No such thing as a bad idea
Reviews
Crownfell is still an unexpected sort of game. At once, it’s deterministic and full of surprises. It asks players to parcel out their moves, creating interlocking blocks of armor and spears of threat. But it also asks them to go a little mad sometimes — to light up a distant troop with the Pyro or radically reposition with the Stag or Minstrel.... The result is a wonderful little game, one that feels much larger than its 18 cards. It helps that Strega Wolf van den Berg’s illustrations are obsidian-sharp. There’s nothing quite like some black-on-black warriors speckled with blood. All the better when their behavior on the battlefield matches their spiked armor.
There’s tension in every turn, as players weigh placing new pieces out against developing the positions of their other pieces. The abilities, and their different combinations, provide meaningful variety. This isn’t aesthetic variation. The pieces in play have a significant impact on how the game feels. With simple rules, beautiful art, and only eighteen cards, Crownfell is quite the accomplishment.
A nearly flawless evolution of tactical chess-like head-to-head games. One of those games where about 20% of the way into your first game you stop, sit back for a moment, and go "holy crap, this is good..."
Simple, elegant, and surprisingly deep for its size... Crownfell is a clever, compact two-player game that delivers a lot of depth with just a few components. It's strategic, but accessible, visually fitting, and just a well-crafted design.
Solo expansion
You are among the last defenders of the fallen crown. Withstand an onslaught of invaders to restore peace to the realm.
Make your stand
With a mere four anti-heroes, outmaneuver a relentless tide of 13 unique enemies.
Unpredictable enemies
Enemy actions are determined by a simple card flip, providing smooth gameplay without complex decision trees.
Each enemy performs the topmost action that it's possible to take from their current position. Any time there's a decision to make about which space or card to target, use the priority arrow on the back of the flipped card.
Neoprene playmat
Add the optional 24x14" neoprene playmat, adorned with gorgeous art by Strega Wolf van den Berg, to your game!
As Dan Thurot says: "The mat isn’t strictly necessary. But neither is chocolate."
This game and its artwork are 100% human made.
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More photos
Why buy this?
- Asymmetric 2-player abstract strategy.
- Every "piece" has unique movement and abilities.
- Revive fallen heroes and sway them to your side!
Requirements
Downloads
Components
| Component | Quantity | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Poker Deck | 1 deck of 18 cards |
|
| Poker Hook Box (18 cards) | 1 |
|
Sale Status
Possible Discounts
| Copies Sold | % Discount | $ Discount | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Price | 0% | $0.00 | $14.99 |
| 1+ | 13% | $2.00 | $12.99 |
| 10+ | 14% | $2.17 | $12.82 |
| 20+ | 16% | $2.34 | $12.65 |
| 30+ | 17% | $2.51 | $12.48 |
| 40+ | 18% | $2.68 | $12.31 |
| 50+ | 19% | $2.85 | $12.14 |
| 60+ | 20% | $3.03 | $11.96 |
| 70+ | 21% | $3.20 | $11.79 |
| 80+ | 22% | $3.37 | $11.62 |
| 90+ | 24% | $3.54 | $11.45 |
| 100+ | 25% | $3.71 | $11.28 |
| 500+ | 28% | $4.24 | $10.75 |
| 1000+ | 31% | $4.66 | $10.33 |
| Copies Sold | % Discount | $ Discount | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Price | 0% | $0.00 | $29.99 |
| 1+ | 17% | $5.00 | $24.99 |
| 10+ | 19% | $5.57 | $24.42 |
| 20+ | 20% | $6.13 | $23.86 |
| 30+ | 22% | $6.70 | $23.29 |
| 40+ | 24% | $7.26 | $22.73 |
| 50+ | 26% | $7.83 | $22.16 |
| 60+ | 28% | $8.39 | $21.60 |
| 70+ | 30% | $8.96 | $21.03 |
| 80+ | 32% | $9.52 | $20.47 |
| 90+ | 34% | $10.09 | $19.90 |
| 100+ | 36% | $10.65 | $19.34 |
| 500+ | 39% | $11.60 | $18.39 |
| 1000+ | 40% | $11.95 | $18.04 |
| Copies Sold | % Discount | $ Discount | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Price | 0% | $0.00 | $14.99 |
| 1+ | 13% | $2.00 | $12.99 |
| 10+ | 14% | $2.17 | $12.82 |
| 20+ | 16% | $2.34 | $12.65 |
| 30+ | 17% | $2.51 | $12.48 |
| 40+ | 18% | $2.68 | $12.31 |
| 50+ | 19% | $2.85 | $12.14 |
| 60+ | 20% | $3.03 | $11.96 |
| 70+ | 21% | $3.20 | $11.79 |
| 80+ | 22% | $3.37 | $11.62 |
| 90+ | 24% | $3.54 | $11.45 |
| 100+ | 25% | $3.71 | $11.28 |
| 500+ | 28% | $4.24 | $10.75 |
| 1000+ | 31% | $4.66 | $10.33 |
