2025Marco Canetta, Stefania Niccolini
- Videos
- 40
- Creators
- 38
1 - 4 players45 - 90 minHeavy weight

2023Marco Canetta, Stefania Niccolini
Mainly reviews and how-to-play. Zhanguo: The First Empire is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 11 reviews, 8 how-to-play guides, 6 recorded sessions, 4 unboxings, and 1 other video.
From BoardGameGeek
In 221 B.C., all the so-called Warring States are brought together. This is the birth of the vast Chinese empire, ruled by Qin Shi Huangdi. A skilled and determined strategist, but also a shrewd governor, he undertakes actions aimed at standardizing all the elements at the basis of Chinese society and culture; he imposes a single script and a single currency, then he establishes a new system of laws equal for all. He also builds palaces, installs local governors, and above all, starts the works for the construction of the greatest building in the history of mankind: the Great Wall. A single life cannot suffice for such a vast empire. He sends ships to distant lands in search of the legendary elixir of life, and he builds a huge mausoleum containing the scale reconstruction of his empire. In defense of it for eternity, he deploys an impressive terracotta army... In Zhanguo: The First Empire, you go along with the Emperor's plans to offer your family a place in the terracotta army. To help you in this challenging task, six cards will be at your disposal every round. They will give you permanent support during the rest of the game or will obtain the Emperor's approval for your actions. At the end of the game, the player who made the greatest contribution to the Emperor's cause by scoring the most points wins! -description from the publisher
Zhanguo: The First Empire has 30 videos from 23 creators: 11 reviews, 8 how-to-play guides, 6 playthroughs, 4 unboxings and 1 other video. They date from 2023 to October 2025.
To learn the rules, start with "ZhanGuo: The First Empire - Tutorial & Playthrough" by Gaming Rules!, which runs 2 h 48 min. For a quicker teach, "Tutorial - Zhanguo: El primer Imperio" by Me Robo Una runs 15 min.
For an opinion before you buy, start with "Zhanguo: The First Empire - Board Game Review & Comparison" by Board Gaming Ramblings. 11 creators have reviewed it. To see it played, watch "All the Games with Steph: Zhanguo: The First Empire - Playthrough" by Steph Hodge, one of 6 playthroughs.
If you like it, try Kingdom Crossing, Norsewind, Wireless and ZhanGuo, also by Marco Canetta.
8 of 23
2025Marco Canetta, Stefania Niccolini
1 - 4 players45 - 90 minHeavy weight
2025Marco Canetta, Stefania Niccolini
1 - 4 players30 - 60 minMedium weight
2026Marco Canetta, Stefania Niccolini
1 - 4 players30 - 120 min
2014Marco Canetta, Stefania Niccolini
2 - 4 players60 - 120 minHeavy weight
From BoardGameGeek:
In 221 B.C., all the so-called Warring States are brought together. This is the birth of the vast Chinese empire, ruled by Qin Shi Huangdi. A skilled and determined strategist, but also a shrewd governor, he undertakes actions aimed at standardizing all the elements at the basis of Chinese society and culture; he imposes a single script and a single currency, then he establishes a new system of laws equal for all. He also builds palaces, installs local governors, and above all, starts the works for the construction of the greatest building in the history of mankind: the Great Wall. A single life cannot suffice for such a vast empire. He sends ships to distant lands in search of the legendary elixir of life, and he builds a huge mausoleum containing the scale reconstruction of his empire. In defense of it for eternity, he deploys an impressive terracotta army... In Zhanguo: The First Empire, you go along with the Emperor's plans to offer your family a place in the terracotta army. To help you in this challenging task, six cards will be at your disposal every round. They will give you permanent support during the rest of the game or will obtain the Emperor's approval for your actions. At the end of the game, the player who made the greatest contribution to the Emperor's cause by scoring the most points wins! -description from the publisher
Designers
Marco Canetta, Stefania Niccolini
Artists
Ulric Maes, David Sitbon
Publisher
Sorry We Are French
Categories
Mechanics