Pirates

In Mino Dice, first released as Skull King: Das Würfelspiel, players try to predict the result of dice battles, and whoever predicts most accurately will come out the winner of the contest.

The game includes seven types of dice: minotaurs, griffins, mermaids, and four types of number dice. The game lasts 6-8 hands depending on the number of players, and in each round each player draws a number of dice from the bag equal to the current hand, e.g., five dice for the fifth hand, then places them behind their screen, keeping these dice a secret from all. After getting their dice, each player simultaneously bids the number of tricks they think they'll claim during the round by putting out fingers on their hand. Record these bids on the scoresheet.

The first player in a hand chooses a die from behind their screen, then rolls it in public. If they roll a number die, each other player must roll a number die of this color, if possible; otherwise they roll a die of their choice. Alternatively, a player can always roll a minotaur, griffin, or mermaid die. After each player has rolled, see who has the highest die and claims this trick. A rolled flag is a 0 and cannot win the trick. The minotaur beats the griffin, which beats the mermaid, which beats the minotaur — and all of these special characters beat numbers. If no one rolls a special character, the highest number rolled wins the trick, with a tie being broken in favor of whoever rolled later. The player who wins the trick collects the dice in front of their screen, then chooses a die from their collection to start the next trick.

After all the tricks have been claimed, players score points. If you made your bid exactly, score 20 points per trick bid; if you missed your bid, lose 10 points for each trick your bid was off, whether higher or lower. If you bid zero tricks and make it, score 10 points for each trick in the hand; if you miss a 0 bid, lose 10 points for each trick in the hand regardless of how many tricks you made. If you made your bid and captured a minotaur with a mermaid without also capturing a flag, score 50 bonus points; similarly, if you capture a griffin with a minotaur without capturing a flag, score 30 bonus points.

Whoever has the highest total score after the last hand is complete wins.

Get ready to set sail and engage in a game of cunning and strategy with Skullduggery! This ultimate pirate-themed card game will test your skills as you work to divide the plundered booty and outwit your opponents. With every move, prove yourself to be a true sea dog and master the art of piratical pilfering. Arrr!!

Your aim is to get the highest four-digit number on your secret doubloon cards at the end of the game. All cards are face down, but you'll swap cards in and take sneak peeks as you play.

Every turn you draw a card and choose whether to discard that card for the action, or swap with one of your face-down cards and play that action instead. You could even use a skullduggery token to swap the card with one of your neighbours.

The cards will move as you play. Can you track the cards you've seen and discard the right one at just the right time?

—description from the designer

A resounding bell tolls, signaling the epic battle that awaits. Ever vigilant, you assemble your team, scour your stockpiles for supplies, and arm yourselves to confront the ruthless hordes of barbarian and pirate invaders. Engage in competition with fellow players to etch your name into the annals of town legend. However, cooperation could be crucial to keep Chaos Cove from the brink of oblivion. And once victory is achieved, revel in triumph by tapping into barrels of the finest rum, throwing a legendary party the world will talk about for ages!

Experience Martin Wallace at his best with this highly interactive worker placement game. Command the unique abilities of each of Chaos Cove's 16 valiant heroes, harnessing their talents, capitalizing on location perks, and amassing the essential resources to combat increasingly formidable invaders. Accumulate victory points by triumphing in both land and sea battles, erecting mighty forts, deploying rugged ships, and hosting epic rum-soaked celebrations. Marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship of the 16 charming hero meeples, each brought to life by the unparalleled artistry of Mr. Cuddington.

But here's the twist that sets this game apart: every hero in Chaos Cove is distinctive with their own special ability. With 16 unique heroes to choose from, every player has the chance to step into the shoes of each hero during the game, making each playthrough an exciting and unique adventure. And don’t forget the locations, each one offering a different strategic advantage. The dynamic interplay of hero placement and location choice leads to extraordinary interactions that position you for victory over the relentless pirates and marauding barbarians.

Should the town of Chaos Cove withstand four harrowing rounds without succumbing to the invaders, a protector of Chaos Cove shall rise. Do you possess the mettle and strategy required to be the protector of Chaos Cove? Outwit your foes as you embark on an unforgettable journey to become the stuff of legends in the beloved town of Chaos Cove!

—description from the publisher

Set sail for an adventurous raid...for perhaps it will be your last! Face danger and adventure once more while you search high and low for the most valuable treasures the Caribbean has to offer, then quickly find a safe harbor to stash priceless gold, rare emeralds, and iridescent pearls. Explore, stockpile cargo, hire crew, and commandeer rival ships, but don't forget to bury your loot. As you sail, be on the lookout for a place to settle after your life on the high seas has come to an end, but before you do that, you must outpace your opponents as one trip around the Caribbean won't be enough. You must make three trips in order to retire as the richest and greatest buccaneer of all time.

Pirates of Maracaibo is a standalone game in the same franchise as 2019's Maracaibo, and players who are familiar with that game will recognize some beloved concepts from the original. However, new players can jump right in with no prior knowledge of the original game as Pirates of Maracaibo is an independent game with a more accessible rule set. The game plays over three rounds in which you sail the Caribbean, hire crew, ally with other ships, explore the shore, amass the most treasure, and (ideally) retire to a secluded island as the most revered pirate in history. Cast off sailors and swashbucklers, cast off!

—description from the designer

Ahoy, Captain!
Hoist your flag, recruit a crew, and fill your coffers with shiny, gold coins.

Captain Flip is a game of obvious simplicity explained in less time than a cannonball shot. On your turn, draw a tile from the bag. You like it? Keep it! You don't like it? Flip it! Then place it on your board to form your crew.

With its nine characters and four boards with different tactics, Captain Flip offers an immediate, fun, and subtle gaming experience.

—description from the publisher