Dominion: Intrigue
- Designer Donald X. Vaccarino
- Publisher Rio Grande Games , 999 Games , Albi , ASS Altenburger Spielkarten , Bard Centrum Gier
- Illustration Matthias Catrein , Julien Delval , Martin Hoffmann , Tomasz Jedruszek , Alexander Jung , Lars-Arne "Maura" Kalusky
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Start for freeWhat to Expect
You build your deck during play by buying cards from a central supply and playing your hand to create efficient combos, as in Dominion. The box text evokes courtly intrigue and secret plans, and the expansion adds new strategic choices through additional kingdom cards. Intrigue introduces more variability to the standard deck-building loop and increases interaction between players.
Who Is This Game For?
Aimed at players who enjoy deck-building and hand-management; best for those familiar with the base Dominion rules. With a recommended minimum age of 13 and a short playtime (~30 minutes), it suits experienced casual groups and hobbyists looking to expand their Dominion options.
How It Works
Players start with a small identical deck and improve it during the game by purchasing cards from a central tableau (Deck/Bag/Pool Building). Hand management and Delayed Purchase are important: you decide what to play now and what to aim to acquire later. Variable set-up and open drafting elements ensure different kingdom card combinations each game, creating fresh decision spaces.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Donald X. Vaccarino, Intrigue adds new kingdom cards and decision-making to the Dominion system. It won Games Magazine Best New Family Strategy Game in 2010 and integrates directly with Dominion, expanding replay options.
Awards
2010
2009
2009
2009
2009
- 2010 Games Magazine Best New Family Strategy Game — Winner
- 2009 Fairplay À la carte Runner-up — Nominated
- 2009 À-la-carte-Kartenspielpreis — Winner
- 2009 Origins Award — Winner
- 2008 Meeples’ Choice Award — Winner
Pro
- Adds new kingdom cards to deepen deck-building strategies
- Integrates seamlessly with Dominion to increase variety
- Emphasises hand-management and Delayed Purchase decisions
- Short playtime (~30 minutes) enables multiple plays in a session
Contra
- Requires the base game for full use and context
- Not ideal as a standalone introduction to deck-building
Setting & Atmosphäre
Medieval-themed card play focused on courtly schemes and secretive interactions, reflected in the flavor text and card concepts.
Tipp für Einsteiger
Play the Dominion base game first; Intrigue expands options and is easier to appreciate with the core mechanics known.
Häufige Fragen
Can I play this solo?
No. This expansion is for 2–6 players and is designed to be used with the base Dominion game.
How long does a game really take?
Listed duration is about 30 minutes; first games with explanations and new card choices may run longer.
What prior experience do I need?
Familiarity with the Dominion base game is recommended because Intrigue adds additional card options and interactions.
How does this compare to similar games?
As an expansion it extends Dominion’s deck-building engine with new cards and choices rather than offering a different core system.
Is this suitable for families?
With a minimum age of 13 and moderate complexity, it fits families with older children and experienced casual players.
What mechanic makes it special?
Deck/Bag/Pool Building combined with Hand Management and Delayed Purchase defines its gameplay.
Fazit
If you already like Dominion and want more card variety and choices, Intrigue is a compact, worthwhile expansion. It presumes familiarity with the base game for best results.
