Japanime Games brings brand new Naruto Board Game to Anime Expo 2016

There is not better source in the US for Anime Board Games than Japanime Games.

Among one of the strongest attractions of Anime Expo are the numerous gaming opportunities. There are multiple video game tournaments, exclusive sneak peeks of games coming from Japan, and games usually only available there as well. Tabletop games are often overlooked in the all digital madness, but that means shorter lines to play them. Among the tabletop booths, Japanime Games truly stands out from the rest.

Japanime Games brought their most popular games to Anime Expo, like Barba Rossa. What caught my eye was the just released Naruto Shippuden – The Board Game. What separates Japanime’s booth from other tabletop booths is that they fully utilize the space to play their games. Multiple circular tables make for efficient groupings around pre-set up games and centralized product placement makes it functional as well as appealing. Lastly, the defining piece of the experience are the highly passionate game masters who expertly break down the game and enthusiastically teach it to you.

Game Summary

Naruto Shippuden – The Board Game allows up to five players for cooperative competitive play. This means players must work together to beat the game, but each person’s contributions to the overall victory are ranked. I tend to get a bit roostery and hygiene-baggish in my excrement talk, so cooperative play is usually more fun. The game features five playable characters, Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, Rock Lee, and Shikamru. Each player requires different play styles and strategies that accurately represent their personalities and abilities. The main objective is to prevent the Akatsuki from acquiring the 9 tailed-beasts. Players battle members of Akatsuki based on which one is drawn from the enemy deck. Lastly, the game features decently detailed figurines, and cards featuring art straight from the show.

We were only able to play one round, but the game seemed to offer a lot of fun and a decent challenge. Our fun and excitement drew a crowd. Hopefully we’ll get to do a full review soon. But if you can’t wait, be sure to look for Japanime Games at the next convention or buy your copy now Japanime Game’s site.