I’ve purchased LionHeart two weeks ago in a thrift store after being awestruck by the games box art and the many medieval pieces. I’ve had the opportunity to play the games in different formats and with different strategies, and I’m glad I did.
For those looking for a sense of realism with their board games, LionHeart features only real-life units, no elves, goblins or other mythical creatures. Much like chess, this game is meant to reenact medieval warfare on a small scale. In fact, this game is essentially chess with more intricate battle movements. Each game after the first can be set up very quickly and usually lasts between 15 to 45 minutes.
Each player starts with a small army composed of different types of units, each with unique skills. Some have better defense, better attacks, better range or better movement. Each player has the opportunity to make two actions: move, turn or attack. Once a player is close enough to attack, he or she rolls two die to determine how effective the attack is. The winner is determined by whoever kills the opponent’s king.
Luck plays a major role in the outcome of the game. In fact, when I played this game with my fiancee, we both had similar strategies. But because I had more luck with the die, I won. This sometimes feels like a weakness for the game, but it’s also really satisfying landing on the right sides of the die to take out your opponents units.
Players have the option to add a few extra units after playing the game for the first time. Even though it’s only a few more units (each with more unique battle mechanics), it makes the game exponentially more fun to play.
In terms of design, each unit is detailed and looks great, despite being monochromatic. The makers of this game went for realism over cartoonish charm with the battle units, and they look better off for it. But you’ll have to break them apart from the plastic frames. Because each piece is fragile, you’re likely to break a few in the process. Of the 92 individual pieces, I broke four of them but was able to effectively glue them back together. You’ll also have to put the game away really carefully to that the pieces don’t break just from moving the box around.
The biggest issue with the game is its simplicity. The game uses square titles instead of hexagonal tiles, so the gameplay is much more straightforward than it should have been. Additionally, the board is tiny and flat. LionHeart also has no terrain tiles. Personally, I feel like the more complex the board is, the better the game. I would have loved to see a board with mountains and streams to make the game feel more immersive.
Amazingly, some love this game so much that they’ve found new ways to make the game new and fresh. Tabletop gamers have recommended purchasing a second board and slightly modified to the rules to allow double the size army, and thus twice the battles. Some have even gone as far as playing the game with four boards. Terrain tiles have also been utilized, which often will change the dynamic of the game, placing a larger emphasis on the archers.
LionHeart is a great game for beginners to this type of strategy-based tabletop game. But most others will grow bored of the games simplicity. I recommend this game to players around the age of 8-14. Those who are older and willing to put in the extra effort of adding extra boards, units or terrain tiles will get a lot more out of this game than those who play the game as-is.
You can order a copy of LionHeart right here on Amazon. Since the game is over 15 years old, prices can vary.
If you read this review, please tell me what you think of it in the comment section below. What other games would you like reviewed?