Review: Kingdomino

8.1

What is Kingdomino?

Kingdomino is a two-to-four player tile-drafting game with a quaint medieval kingdom theme, designed by Bruno Cathala and published by Blue Orange Games. Using colourful, cartoon-style domino tiles, players take turns building their kingdoms, aiming to form a perfect 5×5 grid of landscapes to score the most points. With a playtime of around 20 minutes and a price range of £15–£20, Kingdomino is quick to learn, easy to play, and a delightful choice for the whole family.

What's in the box?

• 1 Rulebook
• 4 Starting Tiles (Pink,Yellow, Green, Blue)
• 4 3D Castles
• 48 Dominoes (1 Landscaped Side, 1 Numbered Side)
• 8 Wooden Kings

The rulebook is well laid out, with concise instructions and clear diagrams that make learning the game quick and straightforward.

The domino tiles are made of thick cardboard and our copy is illustrated in a playful, cartoon style by Cyril Bouquet. Each landscape type is easy to distinguish, and there are plenty of fun little details to spot as you play. They’re sturdy too — ours have seen many hours of play and only show slight signs of wear.

The wooden king meeples are a lovely tactile touch. The game could easily have used plain tokens, but the colourful kings add both character and charm, while tying in nicely with the medieval theme.

The 3D castles are a fun idea in theory, but the execution doesn’t quite land. They don’t hold together very well, and since they don’t serve much function during play, we would have preferred a sturdier or more polished component that added extra value to the theme.

How to Play Kingdomino

Setup

1. Each player chooses a colour, taking the matching meeple, starting tile, and castle.
2. Shuffle all domino tiles. The number used depends on player count:
   • 2 players: Use all tiles for a larger game, or remove (at random) 24 dominoes for a shorter game.
   • 3 players: Randomly remove 12 dominoes.
   • 4 players: Use all the dominoes.
3. Place unused tiles back in the box.
4. Draw four tiles face down, arrange them in numerical order, and then flip them face up.

Turn Structure

The Game takes place over a series of selection-and-placement turns.

1. Choosing Tiles
• Starting with the first player and going clockwise, each player places their meeple on the tile they want from the current face-up row.
2. Preparing the Next Round
• Draw the next four tiles, place them face down in numerical order, and then flip them over.
3. Taking Tiles and Placing Meeples
• The player whose meeple is on the first tile in the previous row takes that tile, adds it to their kingdom, then places their meeple on one of the new tiles.
• Continue in order until all players have taken and placed their tiles for the round.

Placing Tiles in Your Kingdom

• Each tile must be placed so at least one side matches the terrain type of an adjacent tile, or is placed directly next to the castle.
• Kingdoms can be at most 5×5 squares in size.
• If you cannot place a tile legally, you discard it.

Scoring

• At the end of the game, score each connected area of the same terrain type: (Number of squares in the area) × (Number of crowns in that area)
• Each separate area is scored individually, then added together for your total.

Bonus Points

• Middle Kingdom: +10 points if your castle is exactly in the centre of your 5×5 grid.
• Harmony: +5 points if your kingdom is a complete 5×5 grid.

Our Thoughts on Kingdomino

Kingdomino takes seconds to set up and offers countless rounds of fun. The quick setup means you can dive straight in, and with such a simple ruleset, new players will pick it up almost immediately.

One of our favourite features is the turn-order mechanic. The choice of which tile to take doesn’t just shape your kingdom—it also determines your place in the next round. That extra layer of strategy can make or break a player’s plans. The 5×5 grid limit forces you to think several turns ahead, only to be outmanoeuvred by your opponent. Yet despite all that planning, the game never feels heavy or difficult—it’s a wonderful balance of thought and accessibility.

Luck also plays a part, with the draw of tiles sometimes upending your best-laid plans. While some players might find this frustrating, we think it adds to the charm. It feels like you’re not just outwitting your opponents, but the game itself.

Kingdomino is endlessly replayable and often hits our table for a couple of rounds on game night. It’s not usually an all-evening affair, but it’s one we reach for again and again as the perfect opener.

The components also add to the experience. The chunky tiles, bold artwork, and cartoonish style create a bright table presence that feels playful and inviting. Even with so few pieces, the finished kingdoms are always eye-catching and unique.

We love Kingdomino. It’s a game that will never be culled from our collection—and it never stays on the shelf long enough to gather dust.

Rob 8.0 - Jess 8.2