Ninja Camp

Little game. Big fun. Ninja meeples!

The Overview

Ninja Camp is a ninja-themed card game where players compete to collect cards. Cards vary in value. The player with the most points wins.

The Good

Gateway game. Extremely simple to learn and teach!

Great filler. Very short play time. Just relax and enjoy.

Random starting setup. The board is different every time you play. This keeps the game interesting and prevents stagnant player strategies.

Balance of luck & strategy. The fast paced gameplay and card collection mechanic leave little room for complex strategies, however, players must manage their hands well to stay in the game.

The Meh

Forgettable theme. Theme was consistent, but never felt important. That said, the ninja meeples are awesome!

Purple ninjas for the win! Hi-ya!

The Notable Mechanics

Simple actions. Card actions are very simple: move in a straight line, move 3 spaces, and leap over an empty spot, etc.

Three ninjas. Every player has three ninja meeples on the board and only one can be moved each turn. This adds depth to the strategy and decision making in the game.

Player elimination. When a player cannot play a card or ninja action on their turn, they are eliminated. While this can be a terrible mechanic in some games, it works well in this short filler. An obvious key strategy is to stay in the game as long as possible, however it does not guarantee a win.

Card collection. Players only start with two cards. Each turn, a player discards a card to move one of their ninjas and takes the card the ninja started on.

This card exchange system forms the core strategies of the game. The most valuable cards are difficult to play while the best cards lack value. The holes left behind create barriers that complicate player movement and can be used to block your opponents.

Players remove a card from the board each turn.

The Summary

Ninja Camp is a fun light strategy game and a great addition to our collection. Anyone interested in a simple light strategy game should check out Ninja Camp!

Summary:

• 2-4 players, 30 minutes
• + quick & fun
• + easy to learn & teach
• + great balance or luck & strategy
• + small footprint
• + ninja meeples!
• + random setup

More information can be found on Board Game Geek.

For in-depth coverage of the rules and how to play Ninja Camp, check out these videos from The Dice Tower and Rhado Runs Through.