The more I play The Old King’s Crown, the more I become enamored with it. Which is saying something, given that I’ve been playing it for something like five years, beginning with Pablo Clark’s rough digital prototype, then a more polished physical prototype, and now the finished thing. It’s a hard title to describe, not quite a lane-battler, not quite a bluffing game, not quite an auction. It isn’t quite like anything because there’s nothing quite like it.

It begins with the disappearance of the king and the four factions who immediately vie to don the proverbial circlet. The contest that follows will be suitably nasty for a war of regicides, unusually vicious for a board game, and gorgeous from start to finish.

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The old king has disappeared. Inconvenient. We were barely holding the place together as it was. Now four claimants are scrambling to seat their bums on the royal pillow. The pillow is on the throne, you understand. But it’s a sublime pillow. Too bad it’s no good for sharing.

Longtime readers will be well aware that one of my favorite types of game is the lane battler, whether we’re talking about classic Battle Line and Schotten Totten or something newer like Omen: A Reign of War, Haven, RiftForce, or Air, Land, & Sea. Even Marvel Snap qualifies.

The Old King’s Crown is a lavish addition to the genre. Designed and illustrated by Pablo Clark, this forthcoming title is certainly one of the handsomest games I’ve played in a long time. I mean, just look at the thing. Mwah.

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