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A Fistful of Penguins
- 1–6 players
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- 2011
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- 5.8
Plunder
2013
Rules assistance for Plunder
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 30–45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Plunder
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Plunder is a board game released in 2013 for 2–6 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Jonathan Franklin.
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About the game
Plunder is a deduction card game in which everyone is a pirate captain with a buried treasure. Players attempt to steal the hidden treasures of the other captains by figuring out the three landmarks that mark where each treasure is hidden. The first player to a treasure takes the largest share, while those who reach it second or third receive less. Keeping your treasure from being stolen is also worth victory points in the end. Find and steal the most treasures first to win in the end! Game Summary Players each get a random set of 3 cards (3 colors) each numbered 1-6: a unique combination. There are 3 decks of question cards matching these colors. On your turn, flip the top 3 questions; you may replace one of these by flipping the next card in that deck. All other players then respond AYE or NAY if they do or do not (respectively) have any exact matches. At any time players may guess the combo of any player by putting their guess into the treasure chest box. Each player in an n-player game may make n unique guesses. After 15 rounds, guesses are revealed in the order they were submitted. If correct, that player will steal from that pirate's treasure: first 3, then 2, then 1. If no one steals your treasure, it's worth 6 to you; if they do, you lose the points they're taking. The player with the most treasure (their own, plus any stolen from others) wins!
Questions and answers
Plunder supports 2–6 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 Plunder is 30–45 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 Plunder for ages 10 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.
Plunder has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Plunder belongs to these categories: Card Game, Deduction, and Pirates. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Plunder and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Plunder are: Jonathan Franklin. 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 Plunder 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.