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Reiner Knizia Yellow & Yangtze

A board game of grand strategy

Ratings

Age

9+

Category

Board

Languages

English

Yellow & Yangtze is the digital adaptation of the acclaimed board game by Reiner Knizia. Set during the Warring States period of ancient China, players lead dynasties by placing tiles representing five facets of a kingdom: Governors, Soldiers, Farmers, Traders, and Artisans. Conflict is inevitable as influence expands, requiring players to wage war on neighbors and build spectacular pagodas. In a unique twist, your final score is your lowest score among the five categories, demanding perfect harmony to achieve victory.

Dinsun Expert Review

Our Expert Score

93/100

Reiner Knizia's Yellow & Yangtze is a masterclass in balance and strategic depth. As a spiritual successor to Tigris & Euphrates, it takes the tile-laying formula to ancient China and adds layers of complexity that are incredibly satisfying to unravel. The core mechanic—where your final score is based on your weakest category—forces you to be a generalist rather than a specialist, making every move a careful calculation.

The digital version is spectacular. It manages to visualize the expansion of governors, soldiers, farmers, traders, and artisans beautifully. The conflicts (both internal and external) are handled with clear animations that make the board state easy to read. It's a 'deliciously stressful' experience where you're constantly trying to maintain harmony while your opponents try to disrupt it. For fans of heavy strategy games, this is easily one of the best digital board games available.

Dinsun reviewed on: Wed Feb 26 2025

Features

1

Grand strategy gameplay

2

Unique 'weakest link' scoring

3

Dynamic kingdom-building

4

Internal and External conflicts

5

Polished digital UI and AI

Tips & Walkthrough

Gameplays

Screenshot

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Q&A

Building a Pagoda (by placing three tiles of the same color in a triangle) provides a recurring point bonus every turn.

Ratings & Reviews

Excellent but with a major (but not fatal) design flaw
Fri Nov 29 2024 Cheddar3210

I love this straightforward implementation of one of my favorite board games. App is attractive and works well EXCEPT that the tiles are key at the bottom of my screen, which means that half the time I try to slide a tile onto the board, my iPhone thinks I’m trying to switch apps. Could the tiles please be placed on the side or something?? Maybe in a corner? Very frustrating.

My new favorite digital board game
Fri Dec 20 2019 FEB777

This game is a Blast! So much fun. I love the combination of abstract game, with subtle strategy needed to win(& which fits the China theme so well). The basic concepts are simple, but winning takes some thinking. The graphics and sound are fantastic. Dire Wolf does it again and I have to say, for me this is even better than Raiders of the North (which is also fantastic!) The Only thing I can say I’d like fixed is to have the ability to hide the banner with scenario goal at top right which takes up valuable real estate.

Best game, but needs online assistance
Thu Jan 30 2025 Lukian115

Devs, this game is amazing. The best, but it’s unplayable online. Sometimes, when I go to place a tile, the tile will get stuck in mid air, and basically freezes the whole game until a bot takes me over “for taking to long on my turn”. And then, so I’m forced to quit the game and when I come back, there’s no option to join back in. This needs fixing as I haven’t been able able to complete a single game online

Beautifully Done
Wed Jul 13 2022 Hollywoodstudiosshouldlovethis

They made this a joy to play. Love the graphics, etc. Can knock out an AI game of three players in fifteen minutes. AI was tough, but now I consistently win about 2/3 of games on hard. Only bug I’ve noticed after 30+ games is that when I have two blue tiles and two green tiles and I’m wanting to move a monument, it only allows me to destroy a tile (peasant revolt) instead. Haven’t found a way around it.

Update are great
Sun Jan 12 2020 RaptorNoclaF

Patch took care of the worst bugs. THANKS! Found one bug though. During multiplayer game, all Leaders on board have my seal, HOWEVER, two are opponents. Thankfully the “swirl” around my leaders are still there, so I know which are which. Hope to see the fix as quick as last time👍🥰

Fantastic implementation of a great boardgame
Sat Jul 20 2024 Paul Militello

There’s a lot of great boardgames that have miserable ports to digital. This one is great. Easy to use. Great visuals and music which enhance the game and don’t slow it down. If you don’t like it, chances are its because you really don’t understand how to play. There’s a video walkthrough of this app. Give it a try.

Solo Play Too Difficult
Sun Jan 26 2020 the-real-mxl

I want to like this game, but as a new player I find the AI just, relentless. Playing three-person against the computer, the Arrow player always has a copious supply of governors, making it easy for it to overtake everyone else. Like, every single time I play. Am I missing some strategic element, or is the game just that difficult? I mean, I find the game unplayable currently. Arrow cleans me out in like, three moves. Every time, in every mode AI mode.

Notifications fixed, now the game is literally perfect
Fri Jun 11 2021 Stallion409

Amazingly polished implementation of a fantastic game. Developers are responsive to bug reports too! Get this game, it is incredible.

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