Bluffing · Card Game

Pirates Code

User summary:

3–4 players—ages 10light difficulty

About the game

What is Pirates Code

User summary:

Pirates Code is a game of deduction and bluffing. There are 14 cards, each numbered 1 through 14, and 12 of them are dealt to players evenly. The remaining 2 cards compose a cipher of the treasure cache. A player wins the game by specifying the correct numbers of these 2 cards.

Each card has its own ability to help gain some clues about the treasure cache. But using the ability comes with a risk of revealing clues to other players. Players have to weigh the risk and the benefit when playing a card.

When a player is sure they have enough clues, it's time for them to declare the codes. The player wins if they are correct. If another player says they have one of the declared numbers, the declaration fails. The declared player misses one turn, but they don't get eliminated, and at least they gain a clue that another player has one. Therefore players may declare codes without enough clues, and experienced players will find out other benefits from early declaration.

Specs