Fit check
Is SGS Imjin War worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Historical strategy players interested in the Japanese invasions of Korea
- Players who prefer long campaigns with weekly turns and multiple scenarios
- Strategy players who want to manage supply, regional objectives, cards, and land and naval forces
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players looking for short sessions rather than an average duration of 18 hours or more
- Players seeking a simple strategy game without supply, card events, sieges, and distinct land and naval combat rules
- Players who want an even starting challenge, since the Korean side is identified as the most difficult to play
- Players looking for a setting outside the late-16th-century conflict in Korea
Our take on SGS Imjin War
The historical account is paired with a long campaign and several interacting systems, including weekly turns, supply, cards, regional control, and specialized land and naval combat. The average duration is 18 hours or more, so the subject matter comes with a substantial commitment to campaign play.
What is SGS Imjin War?
SGS Imjin War covers the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598.
Its Grand Campaign lasts up to 105 weekly turns, with shorter scenarios for parts of the 1592–1593 campaign and another for 1598. One player commands Japanese forces; the other commands Korean and Ming Chinese forces. Depending on events and card play, either side may also control Manchu Jurchen units. The map covers Korea’s seven main historical provinces, nearby off-map areas, and sea zones.
Players manage supply, capture towns, and resolve combat on land and at sea. Cards and events affect weather, income, population loyalty, diplomacy, combat, and sieges. Japan aims to conquer Korea and the Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Zhili; the opposing side wins by expelling the Japanese from the peninsula.
How SGS Imjin War plays
- 01Grand Campaign
- The main scenario can last up to 105 turns, with each turn representing one week from May 1592 to April 1594.
- 02Additional Scenarios
- Other scenarios cover parts of the 1592–1593 campaign and the second invasion in 1598.
- 03Event Cards
- Cards cover subjects including weather, income, population loyalty, diplomacy, combat, and sieges.
- 04Land And Sea Combat
- Combat rules include naval broadsides and boarding, as well as land actions involving guerrillas, horse archers, firearms, cannon, and samurai.
- 05Unit Scales
- Land forces are represented as regiments or equivalents, while ships are grouped into squadrons of 1–6 units.
SGS Imjin War compared to similar games
Men of War: Assault Squad describes a World War II strategy game with direct, hands-on combat and control of individual units. SGS Imjin War instead centers on the Imjin War, with weekly campaign turns, supply, event cards, diplomacy, sieges, and land and naval combat. Shogun Showdown describes turn-based combat built around attack tiles, combos, skills, and deck building, rather than a long historical campaign.
SGS Imjin War: platforms & release
Is SGS Imjin War worth it?
It is worth it if: historical strategy players interested in the Japanese invasions of Korea. Skip it if: players looking for short sessions rather than an average duration of 18 hours or more.
Where can I download SGS Imjin War?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens SGS Imjin War's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is SGS Imjin War on?
Windows and macOS.
