Shogun Dynasty is a fast and fast paced card game of different clans in Japan struggling to take power over all Japan as the Shogun. Using only 20 cards, it is extremely portable and can be played almost anywhere. Shogun Dynasty is played as a series of games. Players are knocked out of a game until the winner is determined. The winner of the series is the first to win 3 games or to win a game with the Emperor. Players have a hand of one card. On their turn they draw one card and play one of their two cards, keeping the other as their hand. Cards can be played face up or face down, with different effects. Cards played face up take effect immediately. Cards played face down take effect at the start of the player's next turn. And players may discard the face down cards of other players before they take effect. Card effects may knock a player out of the game. At the end of the game, the remaining player with the highest ranking card in their hand wins. -description from designer