| Game | Samurai | Complexity | Low |
| Company | Avalon Hill | Time | 2-3 hrs |
| Setting | Feudal Japan | Solitaire | Low |
| Type | Political | Rating | 6 |
Samurai is a game about warfare and politics in feudal Japan. The aim of the game is to gain the title "Shogun" by game end. To become Shogun, the player has to gain control of two out of four Imperial Articles scattered across the mapboard. These are: the Emperor, The Heir, The Imperial Regalia and Kyoto Castle.
Playing pieces are the samurai lords of various houses. Each lord has a home province which provides him with troops. Additional troops may be added through offices, other provinces, castles, etc.
The playing map is rather cartooney. The main Japanese islands are divided into provinces, some of which are subdivided into areas. Areas are either open(green) or mountains(brown).
The game itself is not particularly interesting. The main aim of the game is to avoid being the leader until the last turns, when everyone starts to make a grab for the Shogunate. Forerunners have a tendency of getting shot down by the combined efforts of otehr players.
The only redeeming feature of the game is the amount of "chrome" it has. Personal combat and ninjas add some level of uncertainty to combat. Random events like storms, tsunamis, plague, revolt, Mongol invasion, and a host of other events may trip up any plans.
Good for an evening of beer and pretzels, but stay away if you are looking for some serious gaming.