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About King of Tokyo
King of Tokyo is Richard Garfield's monster brawler, published by IELLO. You roll six dice up to three times, keeping what you like, and the faces give you points, energy, healing or claws. The monster in Tokyo hits everyone outside, and everyone outside hits the monster in Tokyo, which cannot heal while it stays. Energy buys power cards that bend the rules. It is loud, quick and forgiving.
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Is King of Tokyo Right for You?
Best for
King of Tokyo is for families, casual groups and anyone who wants a noisy half hour. The rules take five minutes, the dice work like Yahtzee, and the choice of whether to stay in Tokyo gives even young players a real decision to argue about. Four and five players is ideal, and it works as an opener before a longer game or as a first hobby game for children from about eight.
Maybe skip it if…
It is luck-heavy and has player elimination, so a monster knocked out early sits and watches. Players who want strategic depth will find it thin after a handful of games.
How to Play King of Tokyo
Setup
Each player picks a monster, sets health to 10 and points to 0. Shuffle the power cards and reveal three.
On Your Turn
- Roll the six dice, then reroll any of them up to twice more.
- Resolve: triples of numbers score points, energy goes to your pool, hearts heal outside Tokyo, and claws damage monsters in the other zone.
- If Tokyo is empty you must enter it, then you may buy power cards with energy.
How to Win
Reach 20 victory points or be the last monster standing.
💡 Strategy Tips
Leave Tokyo early when your health is low. The points for staying are rarely worth being knocked out.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Staying in Tokyo on low health. The points for starting a turn there are tempting, but every other monster is hitting you and you cannot heal.
- Never buying power cards. Energy is only useful when spent, and the right card can swing a whole game.
- Keeping hearts while in Tokyo. They do nothing there, so reroll them.
- Forgetting the points route. A monster who keeps triples and avoids fights can reach 20 points without winning a single brawl.
Advanced Strategy
- Buy cards that fit your plan. Point cards reward a patient game, damage cards reward staying aggressive.
- Enter Tokyo when the other monsters are weak or few. Fewer claws pointed at you makes staying cheaper.
- Pay two energy to sweep the market when it holds a card an opponent badly wants.
- Track everyone's points as well as health. The monster closest to 20 is the one to hit, even if they are not in Tokyo.
Variants & House Rules
King of Tokyo: Power Up!
An expansion adding a deck of evolution cards unique to each monster, which gives the characters distinct personalities.
King of Tokyo: Halloween
A collector pack with two new monsters, Pumpkin Jack and Boogey Woogey, plus costume cards.
King of New York
A standalone sequel with more going on: buildings to smash, a larger board and a military that fights back.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
King of Tokyo does exactly what it sets out to do. It is quick, silly and easy to teach, and the push-your-luck dice keep everyone shouting until the end. It is not a deep game, but as a family game or a party opener it has held up for well over a decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players is King of Tokyo best with?
Four or five. At five and six, Tokyo Bay opens and two monsters can occupy Tokyo at once.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Children from about eight can play with little help, and the monster theme does most of the teaching.
Should I buy King of Tokyo or King of New York?
King of Tokyo for families and quick games. King of New York adds more decisions and suits groups who want something a little heavier.