Cannons and Doubloons^*

Cannons and Doubloons is a quick dice-and-bluff game for 2 to 5 pirate captains aged 6 and up. Designer Michael Schacht packs a treasure hunt, an island race, and a sharp cannon duel into 15 to 20 minutes. Loud, light, and a little cheeky.

What's it about?

Three islands, three piles of gold, far too many greedy pirates. Each round you secretly pick which island your ship sails to. If you pick the same one as another captain, the cannonballs fly, and only one of you sails off with the doubloons.

How a round plays out

1. Every player places their ship face-down at an island.
2. Alone at the island, you grab the treasure unopposed.
3. Two or more ships meet, the dice come out, and the most cannons rolled wins the chest.
4. Roll no cannons at all and you hoist the white flag and leave empty-handed.

What's in the box

• 4 pirate ships and 4 dice
• 12 pirate cards, 3 island cards, 1 kraken card
• 4 anchor tokens and 24 doubloons
• Rules in German and English

Who's it for?

Kids from kindergarten age who are ready for a first taste of tactical thinking, where the rules take less time to teach than the game takes to play. It is also a solid pick for mixed family tables. The dice luck closes the gap between adults and small captains, so nobody runs away with it.

Conclusion

A pocket-sized pirate game that wrings real tension out of a handful of rules. If you enjoy calculated risk, small bluffs, and a dose of dice luck, Cannons and Doubloons delivers. Players who dislike randomness should reach for something purer instead.