The First Tsar: Ivan the Terrible – Classic Eurogame with a Twist of Power Plays

Step into the ruthless world of Ivan the Terrible, where the Kremlin’s shadowy chambers become the battleground for power-hungry boyars. During his 40-year reign, Russian noble families jockeyed for influence, bribed the tsar’s minions, and schemed to secure their legacy. In The First Tsar: Ivan the Terrible, you’ll immerse yourself in this fierce competition, vying to become the most influential family in Russia—and perhaps, lay the groundwork for a future claim to the throne.

👥 2-4 players, ages 12+
⌛ Playing time: 2-3 hours
📝 Designer: Stan Kordonskiy
🎨 Artwork: Michele Esposito

🏢 Publisher: Hobby World (Review copy provided)

Gameplay Overview

In The First Tsar, players take on the roles of Russian noble families, each striving to gain the tsar’s favor. The game unfolds over four rounds, each representing a decade, with players navigating through planning and action phases in each round.

The game kicks off with players placing warriors in two cities on the board, establishing an early presence in the four regions of the map. In the planning phase, players send one of their three boyars to one of five available chambers each turn, enhancing their influence by placing coins beneath their boyar.

During the action phase, players take turns resolving their boyars, starting by activating the chamber’s action. If a player has the most influence—determined by their coins and standing on the tsar’s favor track—they also get to perform the chamber’s bonus action. The chambers offer various strategic options: producing resources in cities where players have a presence, adding or moving warriors across waterways, exchanging resources, and trading for foreign goods.

In the project chamber, players can undertake and fulfill projects, a key way to score points and gain bonuses. These projects can enhance military power, build houses to increase territorial influence, and reactivate trade tokens. Additionally, players can acquire estate cards, which grant extra free actions and resources during the game, or title cards, which contribute to end-game scoring.

After completing a chamber’s action, players send their boyar to a city that matches the color of the chamber’s assignment card. Once all players have activated and moved their three boyars, the round ends. Regional influence is then evaluated, and players earn bonuses for having the first or second majority. The assignment cards are reshuffled between chambers, boyars are returned to their players, and the next planning phase begins.

Scoring occurs between the second and third rounds and after the fourth round, rewarding players who have the most warriors in the fields of war and the highest position on the tsar’s favor track. At the end of the game, points are tallied from title cards and leftover resources. The player with the most points will emerge as the most influential family in Russia.

Game Info

The First Tsar: Ivan the Terrible comes from designer Stan Kordonskiy, known for his work on Dice Hospital and Endless Winter. If you’re familiar with his other popular game, Rurik: Dawn of Kiev, you’ll be pleased to know that The First Tsar is its thematic sequel, diving even deeper into Russia’s turbulent past. However, no need to dust off your Rurik rulebook—both games stand on their own. Published by Hobby World, The First Tsar is a medium-weight eurogame blending worker placement, resource management, and area control mechanics, designed for 2-4 players aged 12 and up, with a playtime of about two to three hours. So clear your evening; this one’s a proper sit-down affair!

Components, Production, and Artwork

The game’s production quality is solid, if not groundbreaking. Everything from the custom wooden components to the clear, example-filled rulebook does its job well—nothing flashy, but nothing to complain about either. However, the player boards are a bit on the flimsy side; they get the job done, but you might wish they had a bit more heft to match the weight of your strategic decisions. Michele Esposito’s artwork does a great job of capturing the gritty historical setting, pulling you into the world of 16th-century Russia. The overall look and feel are classic eurogame through and through—familiar, functional, and fittingly atmospheric.

Gameplay Mechanics and Strategy

While the actions in The First Tsar might seem simple on the surface—take a chamber action, then send your boyar to the map—mastering them is anything but. The real challenge lies in balancing resource management, area control, and timing. Players will find themselves in a constant tug-of-war, bidding for that sweet bonus action in each chamber, often using the tsar’s favor track to gain the upper hand. This interplay keeps the tension high, as the constantly shifting power levels can make or break your carefully laid plans. The tsar’s favor isn’t just a track; it’s the pulse of the game, dictating your ability to outmaneuver opponents at crucial moments.

Choosing where to send your boyar isn’t just about the immediate action; it’s also about where they’ll land next. Each chamber sends your boyar to a city matching the chamber’s assignment card color, directly impacting your influence in the four game regions. With each region having two matching colors, players must carefully consider their chamber choices based on which territories they aim to dominate. It’s a tactical game of carefully placing your boyar to tip the scales, where the right move can flip the majority in your favor.

Player Interaction

Interaction in The First Tsar is subtle but powerful. You won’t be directly attacking opponents, but the competition for influence in the chambers and control of regions can feel just as cutthroat. Navigating the chambers, outbidding your competition, and capitalizing on crucial bonuses keep the tension high and every choice impactful. Coins are your currency of influence, and deciding when to splurge or hold back becomes a delicate game of bluff and counter-bluff. Losing control of a region or getting outbid in a crucial chamber can shift the balance dramatically, so don’t expect a quiet stroll through the Kremlin’s halls—this is a battle of wits and well-placed boyars.

Final Thoughts

We’ve really enjoyed our time with The First Tsar: Ivan the Terrible. It’s a game of tight strategies, engaging player interactions, and constantly shifting power dynamics that keep each session fresh and tense. Yes, the game runs long at two to three hours, but time flies when you’re scheming and plotting your way to the top. The first few rounds might feel a bit slow as you get used to the mechanics, but once it clicks, it’s a smooth ride through a web of intrigue and strategy. If you’ve got a soft spot for traditional euro mechanics with a fresh twist, give The First Tsar a try—it might just win you over.

📝 We received a copy of the game from the publisher, Hobby World.