Stats:
No. of players: 2-6
Amount of time to play: 15 min
Age requirements: 8+
Set-up time: minimal

Scallywags Rules Description:

Scallywags is a family game full of pirates, loot and fun. You will need to pay attention to your opponents to get the most gold and win this game.

All you need to do to setup Scallywags is dump out the bag of coins in the middle of your playing area. Leave the coins as they fall, face-up or down. You start Scallywags with a hand of three cards. On your turn you can either draw a face-down coin, play one of your action cards or discard a card and pass.

The majority of your turns will consist of playing an action card. The are nine different action cards that let you steal coins from your opponents, swap coins with them or even give them coins from the pile.

While coins will switch owners and move around the table, they are to keep their orientation (face-up or down) and may not be reordered in front of you.

You may no longer get more coins once you have eight (six in a game with four or more players). The game ends once all players get eight (or six). Then everyone flips all their coins face-up and tallies them up. Coins are valued at 0, 1,3, 5 and eight points. The player with the most points wins.

Quick Review of Scallywags:

Scallywags is a light game that is great for families. It is easy to teach and learn and can be played a few times back-to-back in a short amount of time.

The components are great. All the artwork fits the pirate theme perfect and the cards have funny common pirate sayings on them. The rules are super easy to read and follow too.

This game helps kids learn some basic game strategies. You can bluff when you take a face-down coin. You’ll do better if you remember who stole your good coin and where it is in an opponent’s line up. And you can practice talking like a pirate.

If you have kids and are looking for a fun, light game Scallywags fits the bill. You’ll be counting your booty and having a blast in no time.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 2 out of 6
Luck 5 out of 6
Player Interaction 5 out of 6
Replay Value 4 out of 6
Complexity 2 out of 6
Fun 4 out of 6
Overall 4 out of 6