
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,194
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Algomancy
- 2–10 players
- 30–180 min
- Complexity 4.4/5
- 2025

Rules assistance for Pirate King!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pirate King! is a board game released in 2025 for 2–5 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. It was designed by Frankie Bu and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Variable Set-up, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
Prove your worth and become the Pirate King by facing challenges that will test your luck. In Pirate King!, every decision matters, and only those capable of mastering their ambition will claim the pirate throne. Across 7 rounds, you'll compete against other captains to build the best deck of cards while avoiding the dreaded curses lurking in the seven seas. Each player starts by choosing a captain and an initial deck, while the market and monster cards are placed in the center of the table. Every captain is unique, so choose wisely, as their abilities will aid you on your journey. During the game, players will simultaneously reveal cards from their decks, one by one, deciding each turn whether to keep risking or stop before luck turns against them. If a player reveals three curses (skulls), they explode and lose all the resources they’ve gained that round, falling to the last position. Those who manage their luck well will gather valuable resources, such as gold and swords, to trade for powerful market cards or defeat terrifying monsters. These cards provide victory points and special abilities to help you get ahead of your rivals. However, greed is always lurking, and it could leave you empty-handed if you don’t play carefully. After seven rounds, the player with the most victory points will be crowned the one and only Pirate King. Only one can claim this title—will it be you? —description from the publisher Demuestra tu valía y conviértete en el Rey de los Piratas enfrentando desafíos que pondrán a prueba tu suerte. En Pirate King, cada decisión cuenta, y solo aquellos capaces de dominar su ambición lograrán alcanzar el trono pirata. A lo largo de 7 rondas, competirás contra otros capitanes para construir el mejor mazo de cartas y esquivar las temidas maldiciones que acechan en los siete mares. Cada jugador comienza eligiendo un capitán y un mazo inicial, mientras en el centro de la mesa se despliegan las cartas de mercado y cartas de monstruo. Cada capitán es único, así que elige bien, pues sus habilidades te ayudarán a lo largo de tu travesía. Durante la partida, los jugadores revelarán a la vez las cartas de su mazo, una a una, decidiendo en cada turno si seguir arriesgando o detenerse antes de que la suerte los traicione. Si un jugador revela tres calaveras, explota y pierde todos los recursos obtenidos en esa ronda, siendo relegado al último lugar. Aquellos que manejen bien su suerte podrán recolectar valiosos recursos, como oro y espadas, para canjear por poderosas cartas del mercado o derrotar a temibles monstruos. Estas cartas ofrecen puntos de victoria y habilidades especiales que te permitirán adelantarte a tus rivales. Sin embargo, la codicia siempre está al acecho, y podría dejarte con las manos vacías si no juegas con cautela. Tras siete rondas, el jugador con más puntos de victoria será coronado como el único y verdadero Rey de los Piratas. Solo uno podrá reclamar este título, ¿serás tú el que lo consiga? —description from the designer (Spanish)
Pirate King! supports 2–5 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 Pirate King! is 15 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 Pirate King! for ages 9 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.
Pirate King! has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Pirate King! belongs to these categories: Card Game and Pirates. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Variable Set-up, and 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 Pirate King! are: Frankie Bu. 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 Pirate King! 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.