The game is set in feudal Japan, during the time when, after the arrival of the Portuguese, the daimyo lords competed for control over trade and technology. At the center of the action is Himeji Castle, a symbol of power and prestige. In the game, two clans clash for influence at the White Heron court, building their reputation, trading, and strategically placing their people to gain as many points as possible. The theme combines historical context with elegant Japanese aesthetics, giving the game a strong sense of authenticity and tension.

The game takes place over two rounds, each with 6 turns per player:

• Placing or removing lanterns – in the first round, you place them on castle locations; in the second, you remove them, triggering bonuses.
• Color bonuses – each lantern color (white, black, coral) triggers a chain of rewards: resources, points, influence cards, seals.
• Performing location actions – each location offers two actions, such as buying influence cards, moving courtiers, trading with the Portuguese, arranging gardens, training warriors.
• Scoring – at the end, points are tallied based on icons (katanas, kabuto helmets, banners, origami), seals, and multipliers you build during the game.

The game has no randomness (no dice), so every decision depends entirely on your strategy.

🏯 The White Castle Duel is an elegant, tense, and strategic two-player game that blends historical theme with top-tier tactical challenge.