- BGG rank
- BGG #2,151
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Key Flow
- 2–6 players
- 45–75 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,505
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Fruit Bandits
2005
Rules assistance for Fruit Bandits
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Fruit Bandits
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Fruit Bandits is a board game released in 2005 for 3–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Ian Vincent and its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #241
- BGG rating
- 7.5
The Resistance: Avalon
- 5–10 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #903
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Diamant
- 3–8 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,509
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Witch's Brew
- 3–5 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,987
- BGG rating
- 6.8
La Habana
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,185
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Prey Another Day
- 2–5 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,319
- BGG rating
- 6.6
You're Bluffing!
- 3–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1985
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,420
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Quest
- 4–10 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,732
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Avalon: Big Box
- 5–10 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,990
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Edel, Stein & Reich
- 3–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2003
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,175
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Dungeon Raiders
- 3–5 players
- 20–60 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,199
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Go Nuts for Donuts
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2017
About the game
The inhabitants of the land of Fruitopia are obsessed with one thing: jam production. The fruit growers want to produce the most they can, and if this means stealing... er, borrowing it from their neighbours, then so be it, regardless of the odd flavour it might give to their product. Fruit Bandits is a quick card game in which players use a simultaneous action selection method to choose either to harvest their own crop or try and steal from another player - but this will only work if that player chooses to harvest their own crop. Although everyone will produce exactly the same quantity of fruit during the course of the game, the production will be in a random order, so choosing when to harvest or when to try and raid is dependent not only on your own potential but that of your rivals too.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- JKLM Games
Questions and answers
Fruit Bandits supports 3–5 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 Fruit Bandits 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 Fruit Bandits 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.
Fruit Bandits has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Fruit Bandits belongs to these categories: Card Game and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Fruit Bandits are: Ian Vincent. 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 Fruit Bandits 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.