In the middle of the 19th century, Japan finally realized how far behind the West it was in terms of economy, industry, and technology. The Meiji Restoration ushered in a rapid Industrial Revolution based on zaibatsu, conglomerates of closely related companies.
In Nippon: Zaibatsu, players manage conglomerates of companies called zaibatsu. They build and modernize factories, set up production and supply goods to local markets, fulfill contracts, develop mining and technology, build railroads, and recruit foreign experts – all to catch up with Western countries and prove to the Emperor that their zaibatsu is the most worthy.
Lead the Industrial Revolution and bring Japan to prosperity!
The original game was released in 2015, created by the famous creative duo: Paulo Soledade and Nuno Bizarro Sentieiro. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the designers, together with the development team at CrowD Games, have created Nippon: Zaibatsu – an enhanced and reimagined edition of the game.
It incorporates the best elements of the original game, streamlines gameplay, and introduces many new concepts and mechanisms. While the game feels fresh and plays differently, at its core, it remains the beloved Nippon that players around the world know and enjoy.
Nippon is a well-known game that’s been played for 10 years. Nippon: Zaibatsu keeps all the core mechanisms of the original game, while reworking and rebalancing many gameplay features to align with modern trends.
NEW RESOURCES
Silk replaces Blueprints and can be used as money (1:1), while Iron is used for building Ships, Trains, and upgrading Factories with Machines.
UNIQUE FACTORIES
The game features 24 distinctive Factories and 6 Late-game Factories for experienced players, each offering immediate bonuses or permanent effects and modifiers.
UPDATED ACTIONS
Most Actions have been rebalanced and streamlined, creating new opportunities for development and growth.
REWORKED CONSOLIDATION
During Consolidation, players choose which aspects of their zaibatsu will score them victory points, and receive bonuses according to the colors of their hired Workers.
ASYMMETRIC STARTING CONDITIONS
Starting tokens provide different resources and bonuses, slightly nudging players toward varied strategies.
Ships grant Expert Workers and upgrade Departments, offering better bonuses during Consolidation, from tracks and fulfilled Contracts.
ASYMMETRIC STARTING CONDITIONS
Starting tokens provide different resources and bonuses, slightly nudging players toward varied strategies.
IWAKURA MISSION
Ships grant Expert Workers and upgrade Departments, offering better bonuses during Consolidation, from tracks and fulfilled Contracts.
SOLO MODE
The low-maintenance yet effective Automa provides a formidable challenge,even for experienced players.
Nippon: Zaibatsu is a fast-paced, highly competitive area-majority worker-placement game where actions can’t be blocked. On your turn, you take a Worker from the Hiring area and perform the corresponding action. If you can’t or don’t want to do this, you Consolidate, gaining income and bonuses, and determining which tracks will score victory points at the end of the game.
Hire Workers to perform nine different actions.
Colors of the Workers correspond to different Departments.
Factories produce various Goods and provide you
with immediate bonuses or permanent effects and modifiers.
Supply local markets with the Goods your Factories produced
to gain Influence in the regions and receive bonuses.
Invest in R&D to construct more advanced Factories.
Modernize them and develop Mining to increase production.
Drive out competitors and secure your presence in the regions.
Strengthen your advantage by building Railroads.
Construct Ships and organize diplomatic missions
to upgrade your Departments and recruit foreign experts.
Consolidate to give your zaibatsu a fresh start and earn the Emperor’s favor.
Wisely timed Consolidations maximize your benefits.
Please note that some videos feature prototype copies created before the Kickstarter campaign in 2025.
Many components and graphic elements have been enhanced, and game mechanisms
have been adjusted to improve balance and gameplay experience.
