Divine Right is played on a full-color map of the fantasy world of Minaria, using counters to designate armies, fleets, barbarians, mercenaries, and other fighting forces.

Magical creatures and items are also employed in an attempt to win the game through amassing more victory points than your opponents.

[2] This two- to six-player game incorporates combat, castle sieges, and diplomacy in a fantasy setting.

Divine Right was developed by brothers Glenn and Kenneth Rahman based on their earlier, unpublished game Your Excellency.

This background was detailed in an appendix to the original game manual and in a series of 20 articles titled Minarian Legends appearing in Dragon magazine.

Glenn also credits the artwork by his brother Kenneth with helping ensure its continued popularity, calling it "a quantum leap over the drab art that had illustrated most games until then.

The second edition was released in 1980 and included several original additions as well as elements from the articles appearing in Dragon magazine at the time.

The challenge of playing a different kingdom keeps players thinking, and the variety of special units can alter events quickly.

"[11] In a retrospective review in Issue 30 of Simulacrum, Brian Train commented, "Divine Right combines the whimsy of a fantasy RPG with an old-school, beer & pretzel wargame.

"[12] In a review of Divine Right in Black Gate, Fletcher Vredenburgh said "In my experience, most players have the same strategy: build up their forces and then swoop in on the weakest opponent.