Rising Sun
AREA-CONTROL MINIATURES GAME by ERIC M. LANG (also Blood Rage, Chaos in the Old World, XCOM) + CMON, released 2018 via KICKSTARTER ($4.2M raised — 2nd biggest board Kickstarter ever). Set in FEUDAL JAPAN with SHINTO MYTHOLOGY. 3-5 players compete as MYTHIC CLANS (Dragonfly, Bonsai, Turtle, Koi, Lotus, Bear) vying for control of Japan across 3 seasons. Iconic NEGOTIATION + POLITICAL PHASES (form + break alliances). Kami track for divine favor + monster summoning. Beautiful minis. Spiritual successor to Blood Rage.
What is Rising Sun?
RISING SUN is an AREA-CONTROL MINIATURES GAME designed by ERIC M. LANG (also Blood Rage, Chaos in the Old World, XCOM: The Board Game, Bloodborne: The Board Game, Marvel United) + published by CMON (Cool Mini Or Not). Released 2018 via KICKSTARTER — raised $4.2M (2nd biggest board game Kickstarter at the time). Set in FEUDAL JAPAN with SHINTO MYTHOLOGY overlay. 3-5 players compete as MYTHIC CLANS: DRAGONFLY (mobile, aggressive), BONSAI (patient, growth-focused), TURTLE (defensive, water-based), KOI (economic, trade), LOTUS (adaptable, versatile), BEAR (strength, honor). VYING FOR CONTROL OF JAPAN across 3 SEASONS (Spring, Summer, Autumn) — each season concludes with WAR resolution. Iconic NEGOTIATION + POLITICAL PHASES: Season Start = Alliance Phase where clans FORM ALLIANCES (2-way pacts giving mutual benefits + protection); throughout season, alliances can BREAK dramatically. KAMI TRACK for divine favor: 4 KAMI DEITIES (Amaterasu sun, Susanoo storm, Ryujin sea, Tsukuyomi moon) offer boons in exchange for shrine offerings; player leading kami track at season end wins deity's power. MONSTER SUMMONING: MYTHIC MONSTERS (Oni, Kirin, Kappa, Baku, etc.) can be summoned to serve clan armies. TEA CEREMONY + SEPPUKU + BETRAYAL rich thematic mechanics. BEAUTIFUL MINIATURES (35+ character + monster miniatures painted by community). SPIRITUAL SUCCESSOR to BLOOD RAGE (2015) by same designer — many players consider Rising Sun a refined evolution of Blood Rage's mechanics with negotiation + Japanese theme. ESSENTIAL EXPANSIONS: Kami Unbound + Monster Pack + Dynasty Invasion Pack + Daimyo Boxes.
Quick facts
Category
Board Games
Type
Team sport
Players
3–5
Duration
~120 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Standard tabletop
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
2018 Kickstarter delivery + retail; multiple expansions since
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Score most Victory Points across 3 seasons via WAR resolutions, alliances, virtue, and season-end scoring.
Rules
Basic rules
3 SEASONS: Spring, Summer, Autumn. Each starts with Alliance phase (2p pacts)
Negotiation is central.
Political phase: play political mandates (Recruit, Marshal, Train, Betray, Harvest, Kami)
Face-down mandate selection.
War resolution at season end: dice-free combat with Ronin, Seppuku sacrifice, Poets
Deterministic battles with bidding twist.
Alliances can be broken via Betray mandate
Trust + suspicion baked in.
Kami track: offer shrines to 4 deities for boons + season-end powers
Shinto pantheon influences game.
Monsters recruited to armies for special abilities
Mythic Japanese monsters.
Scoring
VP-based across 3 seasons. Final score at game end.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| War resolution victory in province | 1-6 VP per province won |
| Virtue points (from Poet, seppuku, deeds) | 1-3 VP per virtue |
| Alliance bonus at season end (still allied) | Bonus VP + kami favors |
| Kami track leader at season end | Deity boon + VP |
| Season-end scoring based on set collection | Vary by scoring tile |
Win condition · Most VP after 3 seasons.
Playing area
Called
Standard tabletop
Dimensions
Large board (~60cm × 90cm)
Home tabletop; requires table for map + player boards + miniatures + cards + tokens.
Equipment
Rising Sun base game ($100-120 USD)
Retail edition; 6 clans + monsters + all core rules
Kami Unbound expansion ($40)
Additional Kami content
Rising Sun Monster Pack ($30)
More monster miniatures
Dynasty Invasion Pack + Daimyo Boxes (Kickstarter exclusives)
Additional clans + factions
Strategies
Alliances first: pick partner wisely
Alliance gives free actions + power.
Kami track: pursue 1-2 deities aggressively
Divide + conquer kami favors.
Betray only for major gain
Broken alliance hurts trust + future turns.
Monsters buff armies; recruit strategically
Baku (blackout), Kirin (charge), Oni (attack).
Seppuku for virtue + trigger conditions
Sacrifice one unit for VP.
Terminology
- Kami
- Shinto deity; 4 major (Amaterasu, Susanoo, Ryujin, Tsukuyomi).
- Mandate
- Face-down political action card.
- Ronin
- Masterless samurai; mercenary combat asset.
- Alliance
- 2-player pact; mutual benefits + protection.
- Betray
- Break alliance + gain temporary advantage.
- Seppuku
- Sacrifice unit for virtue + trigger effects.
- Poet
- Special unit; grants virtue points + reveals opponent hand.
- Ryojin
- Bonus movement + attack ability.
- Shrine
- Offering to kami on kami track.
- Season
- 1 of 3 game phases; ends with War resolution.
Major competitions
CMON Expo demos + tournaments
annual · USA · since 2018
Essen Spiel + BGG.CON demos
annual · worldwide · since 2018
Where it is played
Governing bodies
CMON (publisher)
Founded 2001 · Marietta, Georgia, USA
BoardGameGeek (community tracking)
Founded 2000 · USA
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Eric M. Lang (US) — Designer (also Blood Rage, Chaos in the Old World)
- Adrian Smith (UK) — Illustrator; iconic Japanese art
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Buy Rising Sun base game ($100-120)
Complete game with 6 clans.
- 2
Watch Watch It Played tutorial + read rules
Complex political + war rules.
intermediate
- 1
Play 5-player game for full negotiation
3p feels different.
advanced
- 1
Add Kami Unbound + Dynasty Invasion Pack
Expansion play.
Frequently asked
What is Rising Sun?+
AREA-CONTROL MINIATURES GAME by ERIC M. LANG (also Blood Rage, Chaos in the Old World, XCOM) + CMON, released 2018 via KICKSTARTER ($4.2M raised — 2nd biggest board Kickstarter ever). Set in FEUDAL JAPAN with SHINTO MYTHOLOGY. 3-5 players compete as MYTHIC CLANS (Dragonfly, Bonsai, Turtle, Koi, Lotus, Bear) vying for control of Japan across 3 seasons. Iconic NEGOTIATION + POLITICAL PHASES (form + break alliances). Kami track for divine favor + monster summoning. Beautiful minis. Spiritual successor to Blood Rage.
Rising Sun vs Blood Rage — which to buy?+
BOTH BY ERIC LANG + CMON. BLOOD RAGE (2015) is Viking-themed, simpler + faster, dice-based combat, 2-4 players. RISING SUN (2018) is Japanese-themed, more complex negotiation + political depth, no dice combat, 3-5 players. RECOMMENDATION: BLOOD RAGE for gateway thematic experience + Viking mythology fans (~$70). RISING SUN for deeper negotiation + more players + Japanese setting (~$100-120). Both excellent. If you love Rising Sun, backtrack to Blood Rage for lighter feel; if you love Blood Rage + want more depth, upgrade to Rising Sun.
Sources & provenance
- CMON — Rising Sun— CMON
- BoardGameGeek — Rising Sun— BoardGameGeek