The mysterious Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan


Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan
Ready for some hidden movement?

If your boys are like our boys, they’ll be very interested in playing a game about Ninjas. They’ve had fun pretending to be ninjas since they were little – lurking around the house, seeing how hidden and sly they can be.

So when they heard about a hidden movement game based on Ninjas, they were pretty excited. And once they had the chance to play Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan by AEG, the big question was – is it a good game?

Well, Trevor’s here to tell you what he thinks about Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan in his video review.

Can the whole family enjoy Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan?

Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan
Try to sneak past all the guards.

While our boys and I have loved playing Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan, it isn’t a board game for everyone. For starters, mom and Brooke haven’t expressed any interest in playing. We guess the mystique behind sneaking around as ninjas just doesn’t appeal to them. And it’s not a game that younger players are going to grasp very well.

But for teenage boys and their dad – bring on the ninjas.

What makes Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan a fun game?
We love the planning and thinking that happens on both sides of this game. From the ninja player’s perspective, you see so many guards on the board that you really have to plan well to find ways to get around them and search out your mission. The faster and farther you move on a turn, the more likely they are to hear you and come searching. So it’s easy to get caught up in pretending to move like ninjas and sneaking around the grounds.

Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan
How sly can your ninja be?

From the guard player’s perspective, you start out the game without any clue where the ninja player is moving around. Sure you have a lot of guards roaming the grounds, but you can only choose a couple of them each turn to listen or search. So you have to choose wisely which guards you have make each search. And even once you find out that the ninja is within the castle walls looking for his mission location, you’ll have to make good guesses to zero in on him.

All of this planning and guessing delivers a lot of tension as you both work to complete your objectives of either finding your mission locations and escaping or finding the ninja and the traitor and stopping them.

So if you’re a fan of head-to-head games with some tension and thoughtful planning, then we’d suggest you give Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan a try.

Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan
Keep track on your own map.

How many players can play Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan?

The board game was designed for 2 to 4 players to enjoy. However, we think it’s best as a 2-player game. With more than 2 players you have to coordinate your plans with your partner. It’s not that we don’t think working with partners is a bad thing. After all, we love cooperative games and team games. But in Ninja, discussing each move and action slows the game down and loses some of the appeal. We think that plotting your movements on your own is the best way to play.

Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion ClanHow does Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan score on the “Let’s Play Again” meter?
Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan scores high on our “Let’s play again” game meter for the boys in our clan. Even Caleb, who is a little young for Ninja, has loved playing it over and over. Once it’s out, it seems to stay out on the table for a while. And when they’re done playing it a few times for one day, they’ll keep it out so it’s ready to go again the next day.

Thanks AEG for yet another great board game!

The Board Game Family Game Ratings
Caleb: 3.0 Meeples Caleb
  Has not played Brooke
Jaden: 4.5 Meeples Jaden
Trevor: 4.5 Meeples Trevor
  Has not played Mom
Dad: 4.0 Meeples Dad
AVerage: 4.0 Meeples Average
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2 thoughts on “The mysterious Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan

  • Thanks so much for reviewing this. My wife and I have been lookin’ for a decent two-player hidden movement game and were intrigued by this title. After reading/watching some negative reviews elsewhere of Ninja we were a little hesitant, but watching this video and knowing that Trevor and Jaden really enjoy it makes me a little more optimistic. The theme of Nuns on the Run seemed somehow more engaging (for us), but the mechanic would just be all wrong for two I’m guessing. May hafta give Ninja a try before too-too long here.

    Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  • Thanks so much for reviewing this. My wife and I have been lookin’ for a decent two-player hidden movement game and were intrigued by this title. After reading/watching some negative reviews elsewhere of Ninja we were a little hesitant, but watching this video and knowing that Trevor and Jaden really enjoy it makes me a little more optimistic. The theme of Nuns on the Run seemed somehow more engaging (for us), but the mechanic would just be all wrong for two I’m guessing. May hafta give Ninja a try before too-too long here.

    Thanks! 🙂

    Reply

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