- BGG rank
- BGG #1,233
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Dice Town
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,162
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Desperados of Dice Town
2014
Rules assistance for Desperados of Dice Town
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 25 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Desperados of Dice Town
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Desperados of Dice Town is a board game released in 2014 for 2–4 players, 25 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Desperados of Dice Town has the same setting as the Dice Town game from the same authors, but this is a prequel of sorts, with players now trying to free their fellow bandits from jail in order to do any number of ill-considered deeds. We'll figure that out later, though — first, let's free some desperadoes! Each player has five desperadoes in jail at the start of the game, each with a different symbol on them. On a turn, you roll four dice up to three times, putting aside any dice you want to save. If you combine a "hit" with a symbol on a desperado, you rotate that desperado disc, moving him one step closer to freedom. Each desperado requires a different number of steps to reach freedom, and once free, when you hit that same desperado, he now robs money from the other players. Certain dice combinations allow you to draw multiple bonus cards and choose one or two that you like, and if you skunk out and don't do anything else, you take the top card as compensation. The cards let you take special bonus actions like not paying opponents and using symbols in different ways. Win by freeing all of your desperadoes before anyone else or by being the last one in the game.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Kaissa Chess & Games
- asmodee
- Hobby Japan
- Matagot
- Asterion Press
Questions and answers
Desperados of Dice Town 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 Desperados of Dice Town is 25 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 Desperados of Dice Town 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.
Desperados of Dice Town has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
Desperados of Dice Town belongs to these categories: Dice and American West. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling. 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 Desperados of Dice Town are: Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc. 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 Desperados of Dice Town 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.