- BGG rank
- BGG #11,478
- BGG rating
- 7.0
NINE
- 2–4 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,534
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Cannon Buster
2017
Rules assistance for Cannon Buster
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.9/5
Rules assistant for Cannon Buster
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cannon Buster is a board game released in 2017 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Gary Kim and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck.
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About the game
The fight for the gold-filled treasure island is about to begin! Ships will fire cannons at each other while pirates use their special abilities to gain as much gold as possible. The player who controls the most pirates and has gathered the most gold by the end of the sixth round will be named the new master of Treasure island. Cannon Buster is based on Koryŏ, but developed as a family game with more player interaction. In more detail, in each of the six rounds players draw cards based on the round number, then place three cards from their hand in front of them, with all players revealing their cards simultaneously. Players then check to see who has a majority of each character, using their majority effects as desired and firing cannons. After six rounds you determine a winner by checking gold coins and the number of character tokens in a player's possession, with additional points being given for possession of antique cannons. Whoever has the most points wins!
Designers
Publishers
- Happy Baobab
- Pixie Games
Questions and answers
Cannon Buster supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cannon Buster is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Cannon Buster for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Cannon Buster has a complexity rating of 1.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Cannon Buster belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fighting, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Cannon Buster are: Gary Kim. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Cannon Buster as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.