Some games win the whole table on the first try. Blood Rage didn’t. After our first game, the honest summary is: mixed feelings around the table. That’s not a pan. It’s a game that asks you to like a very specific kind of fight.
What is Blood Rage?
You lead a Viking clan in the last days before Ragnarök. The world is ending, and the only thing that matters is glory. Two to four players spread their clans across the provinces of a shrinking map, fight, pillage and try to go down in style.
It’s designed by Eric Lang and was published by CMON in 2015, after a Kickstarter that raised almost a million dollars. It made the Kennerspiel des Jahres recommended list.
How it plays
The game runs over three ages. Each age follows the same rhythm:
- Draft. Everyone gets a hand of cards, keeps one and passes the rest, until each player holds six.
- Act. You spend Rage, your clan’s resource, to invade provinces, upgrade your clan or pillage.
- Ragnarök. At the end of each age, part of the world is destroyed. Any figures there go to Valhalla, and dying gloriously earns you points.
Battles have no dice. Each side adds a secretly played card to the strength of its figures in the province. And here’s the twist: some cards reward you for losing your figures in battle. Getting wiped out can be a plan.
Where it stings: the mixed feelings
Our first game didn’t land the same way for everyone. We don’t want to make up who felt what, so we’ll leave it at that and give you the context instead.
Blood Rage is all conflict. You’re always on someone else’s land, or they’re on yours. If your table loves that, great. If someone at your table prefers building their own corner in peace, as in Everdell, they’ll find this a very different evening.
There are a few practical gripes, too: setup and cleanup take a while, the cards are small, and a player who drafts very well can run away with the game.
Where it shines
There’s a lot of clever design in here. The draft means you’re always weighing what helps you against what you’d rather not pass to your neighbor. The no-dice battles feel fair. And a game where losing can be a winning move gives you moments you won’t find in most war games.
It also looks fantastic on the table. For us, the miniatures and the theme are a real highlight.
If you like the push and pull of a shared map, have a look at our reviews of Arcs and Dune: Imperium – Uprising.
Blood Rage with kids?
Our collection list puts the age at 12+, while other listings give 13+. It’s a game about battles and Ragnarök, with figures to match. We don’t have our own kids’ experience to report for this one, and we wouldn’t start a younger child here.
What we hear in the community
Many players consider Blood Rage a masterful design: tight mechanics, strong theme and strategies that keep opening up over repeated plays, especially with a regular group. It’s widely seen as best with three or four and less tense with two. Some are also bothered that the female miniatures wear far less armor than the male ones.
Combat-wise, it often gets compared to Cosmic Encounter and Small World more than to Risk. We’ve played Small World too, if you want to compare. We haven’t tried any of the Blood Rage expansions, or the two-player game.
Our verdict
Blood Rage is a smart, dramatic Viking brawl. After one game, our table was split. If your group of friends, family or chosen family loves drafting and elbows-out area control, it’s well worth a try. If your table prefers peace and quiet, skip the apocalypse.
Where it shines
- No dice: battles are decided by cards and figures
- Losing a fight can still pay off, which makes for clever twists
- Big, dramatic miniatures and a strong Viking theme
Where it stings
- Mixed feelings around our table after the first game
- Constant conflict won't suit every player
- Long setup and tiny cards
Fact sheet
- 2–4
- 60–90 min
- 12+ (our list; other listings say 13+)
- Eric Lang
FAQ
How long does a game of Blood Rage take?
Listings give 60 to 90 minutes, plus about 10 minutes of setup.
What age is Blood Rage for?
Our collection list says 12+. Other listings give 13+, so check the box you're buying. We don't have kids' experience to report for this one.
Is Blood Rage good with two players?
It plays two to four. In the community, you often hear that it's less tense with two than with three or four. We haven't played it with two ourselves yet.
Does Blood Rage use dice?
No. Battles are decided by your figures plus a card played in secret, so there's no dice luck.
Who designed Blood Rage?
Eric Lang. It was published by CMON in 2015 after a Kickstarter campaign.
