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How to Play The Old King's Crown
- , by Eden Miller
- 7 min reading time
In a kingdom infused with legend, engage in battle for The Old King's Crown! Command one of four factions in card-based combat across three lanes, simply seeking to play the highest card in each lane to win Influence. Victory goes to the player with the highest influence. Sound easy? The game is deceptively simple and unique, inviting you to use your faction's skills and other gameplay devices in pursuit of the crown.
The Old King's Crown: An Asymmetrical Card Game for the Crown
The Old King's Crown is an asymmetrical card game with elements of several other game types, including deck builders, strategy games, and bluffing games. It's an incredibly rich game with a very simple premise: win Clashes in each Region to gain Influence and ultimately win the game. It's a common conceit seen in games like Root or Arcs, which are both built on area control and gaining influence over a changing competitive environment.
What makes it unique is the variability inherent in both the mechanics and actual gameplay. The Old King's Crown is addictive and incredibly replayable. No two games will be the same, and you'll want to explore every faction at your disposal to find out which one's playstyle is best for your strategy.
What Is The Old King's Crown?
The Old King's Crown is a rich, beautifully rendered game where you and your friends command warring factions in pursuit of an ancient kingdom's throne. In the wake of the king's passing, your factions will take up arms to gain influence across the kingdom. Command your troops and engage in battle across three lanes during the four seasons of the year to ensure your victory. Over the course of the game, you'll play cards to vie for power across the three lanes and acquire additional Kingdom Cards to support your strategy. As you'll see, The Old King's Crown is a game with deep mechanics and worldbuilding worth getting lost in.
What Factions Can I Play in The Old King's Crown?
In The Old King's Crown, you have four factions in the core box to mobilize against your enemies: the Nobility, the Clans, the Uprising, and the Gathering. Each faction has its own distinct playstyle reflected in unique Tactics, HQ Cards, and Advanced Faction Cards.
The Nobility is the family that has carried the crown for decades. Helmed by Titus of Dawns and Dusks, the sole heir, this faction manages its defenses to exert and sustain control over the board. It is the family that endures and maintains its power across generations, reflected in its use of the Deploy keyword, which allows the player to field their cards early. Constructed around the old ways of ruling, the only things standing between the Nobility and another generation of reign are their dissenters.
The Clans faction stands among the Nobility's dissenters. A group of exiles led by Saga the Unifier, this faction aims to rally their forces to push their way to the throne. The Clans are people of the sea who mobilize in order to forge a bright new future for the kingdom. In particular, this faction leans heavily on the Flanking keyword, which allows the player to move the flanking card into a different lane and add its value, turning the tide of combat.
The Gathering is a mysterious cult led by the mystical Petrichor the Unmasked, a former Nobility princess who abandoned the kingdom to pursue a higher calling. She and her congregants stand together to usher the kingdom into a new era, though it remains to be seen whether for better or worse. The Gathering grows in power over the course of the game, manipulating and destroying cards for later payoff. This playstyle is more complex and requires strategic sequencing to ensure the greatest reward.
The Uprising focuses on subversion and deception. They are the rogues plotting in alleyways and operating their spies under the cover of darkness. Commanding this faction is the elusive Secret Society, looking to install themselves through scheming, feints, and eliminating rival cards. This faction often utilizes the Deadly keyword to sneakily eliminate other played cards.
How to Play The Old King's Crown
Each player starts the game with an identical deck, adding new cards over the course of gameplay. Throughout the game, players bid on new Kingdom Cards to aid their cause and participate in Clashes, in which cards are played facedown and revealed simultaneously, with the highest value determining the winner.
The crux of the game is played across three regions (the Highlands, Plateau, and Lowlands), each with their own Location Rewards awarded to the winners of Clashes in those regions. The regions you fight for support your strategy, and the rewards are only strengthened if you have a Herald in the region, who offers an additional bonus upon victory in a Clash.
The game is split up into four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. In Spring, players acquire Kingdom Cards, mobilize Heralds, play cards next to Regions, and activate Spring Actions and Commands. During Summer, players resolve Clashes in each Region, claiming rewards for each victory. Autumn allows players to Govern and Journey, as well as activate Autumn Actions and Commands. When players Govern, they may assign cards to join Councils, which offer players a unique effect or ability. Journeying enables players to acquire Advanced Faction and HQ Cards. Winter is your upkeep phase, so there really aren't any big game-changing plays to be made in that phase, but players may resolve any relevant Winter effects, as well as discard remaining Active cards and advance the round track.
What's So Special About The Old King's Crown?
In The Old King's Crown, you have the power to completely control your gameplay strategy. Sure, your faction is built to support certain playstyles, but you're in control the whole way through. You have the power to bid on whatever Kingdom Cards you want or pivot at a moment's notice to focus on a totally different objective. The game is fast-paced and exciting, with players changing the game turn-to-turn and even season-to-season. With factions like The Gathering, you really never know who will win, which sets it apart from other games. Players start on a level playing field, with no one at a disadvantage, creating an environment where players truly learn together.
Card-Based Combat Fit for a King
The Old King's Crown is a genuinely dynamic game, offering a thematically captivating and deeply playful experience for anyone who opens the box. This game appeals to a wide variety of board game and trading card game fans seeking a unique game that's sure to become a game night staple. Fans of deck builders will be delighted by the ability to customize and optimize their decks, crafting their own unique playstyles during each game, while strategy gamers will get a rush from the area control mechanics and combat. Easy to learn and difficult to master, The Old King's Crown isn't a game designed to gather dust on your shelf. It's made to be thought about, with stunning art to be admired and new strategies to be developed. Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down.
There's much more to learn about how the game is played, which can be found in greater detail in the rulebook. In the meantime, pre-order your copy to ensure you don't miss out on one of the most anticipated games of 2026.
