Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
More strategic control
How it plays
How does it play?
Lead a boyar family through four decades of Ivan the Terrible’s reign, bidding for Kremlin actions and influence across Russia.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Area Majority
Compete to have the strongest presence in areas that award control or points.
Market
Buy and sell through a shared supply whose availability or prices can change.
Area Movement
Move pieces between connected regions rather than along individual spaces.
Income
Receive recurring resources according to your position, assets, or development.
End Game Bonuses
Earn additional points for meeting conditions evaluated when the game ends.
Read the full game description
The First Tsar: Ivan the Terrible is a historical strategy game about rival boyar families competing for power in sixteenth-century Russia. Across four rounds, players send boyars to Kremlin chambers, bid coins for priority and bonus actions, collect income from estates, equip warriors, trade, fortify cities, pursue projects, and seek royal titles. Regional influence and the Tsar’s Favor track create recurring contests and decisive tie breakers, forcing every family to balance a stronger economy against visible political ambition.
