Katana

Turn-based dueling samurai card game

Seize your sword in Katana, a two-player card game. The objective was to create interaction systems that relate the tense nature of samurai combat to dynamic turn-based play.

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Research

"The Poets of Ki-no-Tsurayuki and Kakinomoto Hitomaro," a 17th century ink painting by Iwasa Matabei and notes on Japanese heraldry.

"The Poets of Ki-no-Tsurayuki and Kakinomoto Hitomaro," a 17th century ink painting by Iwasa Matabei and notes on Japanese heraldry.

While the culture of samurai has long captivated the Western imagination, respecting this tradition demanded study. This was accomplished by pouring through primary texts written by samurai, martial treatises, and observing the practice of modern Japanese swordsmanship.

The visual design embraces austere wabi-sabi (侘寂) aesthetics, Chinese-style ink painting, and logo-like heraldry insignia called mon (紋).

Game Design

Early notes on game mechanics.

Katana is designed so that players must engage with the cultural mechanics to win; it is not possible to succeed through brute force alone. For example, players must contend with the negative effects of ritual pollution, which hampers their combat abilities whenever an attack succeeds.

Play-testing

Photos from two different play-testing sessions.

Achieving this blend of mechanics was the fruit of frequent play-testing. Initially, this was limited to a small group of close friends, though eventually moved to blind play-testing with copies sent to testers across the US.

Photos from two different play-testing sessions.

FInal Design

Download the instructions here.

Marketing

Marketing consisted of a Kickstarter campaign, dedicated website for direct-to-consumer sales, a digital advertising campaign timed with the retail release, on-site events, and targeted media outreach.

Reviews heap praise on the game’s strategic play and eye-catching artwork, but what stands out from critical assessments of the game is appreciation for the thematic design.

"If you love playing two-player games with fast and exciting gameplay, you should definitely check this one out."
@tabletopping

"A good, pure 2-player game that is quick to learn, easy to teach, and fun to play. Beautiful art, the theme is spot on."
@FridayKnightGames

"A great two player game that feels highly reminiscent of games like Unmatched or Air, Land and Sea."
@BullsnBoards