'Shaolin' Board Game Celebrates Hip-Hop's 51st with Wu-Tang Clan Tribute

The Wu-Tang Clan has a new board game inspired by the legendary rap collective.

As hip-hop marks its 51st anniversary this August, fans can celebrate the legacy of one of its most influential groups in a unique way – through a new board game. "Shaolin: A Wu-Tang-Inspired Board Game," developed by Chill B Games, is the first board game to exclusively focus on a hip-hop group or artist.

Co-founded by Tiffany and Mike Campolongo, Chill B Games aims to create board games that pay homage to classic hip-hop icons. "Shaolin" is their latest creation, a unique blend of Wu-Tang Clan trivia and a strategic battle mechanic that immerses players in the group's 30-plus year history.

"The Wu-Tang Clan has often been described as the Rolling Stones or Beatles of hip-hop. While there are board games themed around these classic rock groups, no board games explored the legacy of a hip-hop group until now," said Campolongo, the designer of "Shaolin."

In "Shaolin," players become students training in the 35 chambers of the Shaolin Temple, with the ultimate goal of creating the 36th chamber – a nod to the 1978 martial arts film "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin," which heavily influenced the Wu-Tang Clan and inspired the title of their debut album, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)."

Players earn "cream" (in-game currency) by answering Wu-Tang trivia questions. The "cream" can then be exchanged for fighting styles such as Tiger Style and Shadowboxing, which can also be won through duels with other players as they battle through the Temple to prove their worthiness to create the 36th chamber.

The game features high-quality components, including metal "cream" coins and fully painted player pieces inspired by the "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" album cover and classic martial arts films sampled in Wu-Tang's music. The game's artwork also includes Chinese calligraphy by Shifu Shi Yan Ming, founder of the USA Shaolin Temple and a close friend of RZA, one of the founders of the Wu-Tang Clan.

"Shaolin" offers multiple difficulty levels for the trivia questions, ensuring that players of all skill levels can enjoy the game. The battle mechanic and thematic action cards help balance the gameplay so that knowledge of Wu-Tang trivia isn't the sole determining factor for victory.

Recently, Campolongo presented on using board games as a medium for telling hip-hop stories at the 8th Annual Can't Stop Hip-Hop Conference held at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. "Board games are a unique way to tell stories because they can bring people together for an engaging and educational experience," she said.

Campolongo added, "By bringing this game to market, we hope to establish board games as a medium for telling the stories of hip-hop artists, helping to preserve the legacy of hip-hop as it journeys through its next 50 years."

"Shaolin" can be purchased directly from Chill B Games' official website, or from various other retailers, including Get On Down and RZA's online shop 36 Chambers.