Hidden Village's Print & Play Demo is Available
Download, Print, and Play Hidden Village for Free
The first Print & Play demo of Hidden Village is available to download for free! I’ve been developing and playtesting Hidden Village locally for years, so this is a really exciting chance to bring the game to the rest of the world. Now you too can enjoy this action-packed shinobi lane battler, at no cost. And you can be a part of this journey through your playtesting feedback.
What’s in the Demo?
The Hidden Village Print & Play demo includes everything you need to go head-to-head in a tactical battle with your friends. These files include 4 clans:
Fujibayashi: Reserve Ki and practically guarantee success for your allies.
Fūma: Reach enemies across the board, ensuring nowhere is safe to hide.
Kasai: Press your luck with risky yet explosive combos.
Sarutobi: Stifle your rivals with a solid defense and tricky positioning.
Here’s everything that’s in each file:
40 Shinobi Cards (1 Jōnin + 5 Chūnin for each clan (24 cards), and 16 total Genin)
15 Tool Cards
3 Seal of Secrecy Cards
4 Reference Cards (2 double-sided cards for each player)
4 Territory Cards
4 Hidden Village Cards
1 Demo Mat to set up Territories
1 Sheet of Tokens (30 Damage Tokens and 1 First Strike Token)
1 Template for Custom Dice Stickers for 8 d6 (48 Stickers)
Don’t want to make custom dice? No problem. The demo includes a conversion chart so you can use any d6 you already own (1-2 = X, 3-6 = Ki).
You’ll also find the rulebook, which can be printed alongside the Print & Play or referenced on your device.
How Do I Play?
If you refer to the rulebook you’ll get a full run-through, but here are some hot tips:
Mix and match the clans to see which combination works best for you. With 4 clans at your disposal, you have three possible matchups:
Fujibayashi + Fūma VS Kasai + Sarutobi
Fujibayashi + Kasai VS Fūma + Sarutobi
Fujibayashi + Sarutobi VS Fūma + Kasai
Change which Hidden Village you use. Each of the 4 clans includes a Hidden Village card with a unique ability. When you combine two clans, you choose which village to play with. Experiment to find your favorite! You might find you favor the Fujibayashi village more than Kasai when you combine these two clans.
Try allowing your Hidden Village to get revealed early. It may feel counter-intuitive, but you’ll gain your second Jōnin and access to your Hidden Village’s abilities early in the game, both of which are very powerful. But keep in mind, your opponent now knows where to attack, so you’ll need to defend it carefully. Try it out and see if it’s a strategy that works for you.
How Do I Give Feedback?
I want all your feedback, so I’ve created a Print & Playtest Feedback Form. It’s fairly simple, with only a handful of questions, so if you play Hidden Village, please fill out the form. You can also email me directly (chris@pickitupgames) if forms aren’t your thing. Feel free to also jump onto the Hidden Village Discord server, where a community of Hidden Villagers will welcome your feedback! Whatever way you’re comfortable with, please send me your feedback, because it’s the most valuable information I could get. You’re an extremely important part of this design process!
What About the Other Two Clans?
My main goal for Hidden Village is about having as many people play and enjoy the game as possible. To that end, I’m happy to release a free Print & Play that gives you the full experience of the core game, since the game only requires four clans to play. The 4 clans included in this demo are great for players just getting started.
The Hattori and Taiku clans have a lot to offer, but are a bit more challenging to master, so I’ve excluded them from the demo. However, they’re included in the full Print and Play, which is exclusively available to all email subscribers.
Download Now
In case you missed it, here’s a link to download the Print & Play demo of Hidden Village.
If you find this demo fun, be sure to join the Hidden Village Discord server and be a part of a core community. And of course, please spread the word! The best way to help Hidden Village succeed in next year’s crowdfunding campaign is to share it with your gaming friends.
Command your clan, outsmart rivals, tell your story.
The Hidden Village awaits.