Kingdomino Build your kingdom piece by piece – fun for the whole family

Kingdomino is an award-winning board game that combines classic domino mechanics with modern strategy and beautiful illustrations. The game is suitable for both families and seasoned board gamers, and can be learned in just a few minutes. In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know to get started, master the rules, and get the most out of your gaming experiences with Kingdomino.

What is Kingdomino?

Kingdomino was created by game designer Bruno Cathala and released in 2016. Since then, the game has won several awards, including the prestigious Spiel des Jahres in 2017. The name "Kingdomino" is a combination of "Kingdom" and "Domino", reflecting the game's central mechanic: You build your own kingdom by connecting tiles in a domino-like fashion.

• Number of players: 2-4 (can be expanded to 5-6 with expansions)
• Play time: 15-25 minutes
• Recommended age: From 8 years and up

How to play Kingdomino

Game components

• 48 domino tiles with different landscape types
• 4 castles and 4 colored king figures
• Score pad or paper to keep track of points

Setup

1. Each player gets a castle and places it in the center of the table as the start of their own kingdom.
2. Shuffle the domino tiles and turn four random ones face up in a vertical row.
3. The tiles are numbered – lay them out in ascending order.
4. Randomly determine who starts. Players place their king figures on one of the four domino tiles they wish to choose this round.

Gameplay

1. The player whose king is on the top (lowest numbered) tile chooses first. He/she takes the tile and builds it into their kingdom according to certain rules (tiles must match landscape to landscape, and you can build a maximum 5x5 grid).
2. After placing their tile, the player chooses a new tile from the next row (with four new domino tiles), where their king is moved to. This determines the order for the next round.
3. The game continues until all tiles are used or no more can be placed.

Placing tiles

• A new tile must be placed so that at least one side touches a tile with the same landscape type or your castle.
• The kingdom may be no larger than 5x5 squares.
• If you cannot place a tile, you must discard it.

How to score points

When all tiles have been placed, points are counted:

• You score points for each contiguous area of the same landscape type.
• Each area gives: number of squares × number of crowns in the area.
• No crowns = no points for the area, regardless of size.

Example: If you have a forest area of 4 squares with 2 crowns, you get 4 × 2 = 8 points.

Bonus points

• +5 points if your castle is exactly in the center of your kingdom.
• +5 points if your kingdom is fully built (no empty spaces in 5x5).

Strategy and tips for Kingdomino

Plan your expansion

Try to anticipate which landscapes you will need, and keep an eye on how many crowns are left on the remaining tiles. It can be tempting to take large areas, but without crowns they give no points.

Compete for valuable tiles

There is often competition for domino tiles with many crowns. Sometimes it pays to choose a weaker tile in order to pick first in the next round.

Use bonus points actively

Getting your castle and kingdom to fit exactly can be difficult, but trying can give you the decisive points.

Kingdomino variants and expansions

Kingdomino Duel

A separate two-player version where you draw your kingdom on paper, and dice replace the domino tiles.

Queendomino

An independent expansion that adds new mechanics such as building purchases, knights, and upgrades – more complex and strategic.

Expansion: The Great Duel and more

With expansions, you can play with up to 6 people, and there are often small promos with new tiles or rules.

Why choose Kingdomino?

• Both children and adults can join – the rules are easy, but the strategy is deep.
• Quick games: A typical round takes under 30 minutes.
• Beautiful illustrations and sturdy materials.
• Good variety and high replay value.

Frequently asked questions about Kingdomino

Can you play Kingdomino with two players?

Yes! The rules adapt so there is more space to build, and more tiles in play. Many find it extra strategic with only two players.

Is Kingdomino for children?

Kingdomino is easy to learn and is very suitable for children from 8 years old. Younger children can also join if they get help with scoring.

What awards has Kingdomino won?

Kingdomino has, among others, won Spiel des Jahres (Germany), Guldbrikken (Denmark), and several international awards for best family game.

Conclusion: Try Kingdomino at your next game night

Kingdomino is an excellent choice if you want to try a modern board game with plenty of tactics, beautiful tiles, and quick play time. It is recommended for both beginners and experienced board gamers – and is perfect for family evenings, visits with friends, or a cozy weekend. Have fun building your own kingdom, stone by stone!