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Smash Up
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Rainbow Pirates
2020
Rules assistance for Rainbow Pirates
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 15–60 min
- 7+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Rainbow Pirates
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Rainbow Pirates is a board game released in 2020 for 2–5 players, 15–60 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Brian Sweet and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and End Game Bonuses.
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About the game
Rainbow Pirates is kind of like playing Rummy on an enchanted island while being attacked by pirates drinking piña coladas. The object of the game is to earn as many Treasure Points as possible by placing card groups (treasure) on your island. However, you can also attack your opponents with pirate cards (stealing or blowing up their treasure) or use them to give yourself other advantages. The game was designed to allow for multiple strategies (ranging from guns-blazing aggressive to peace-loving non-violence) based on the player's hand, preferences, and group dynamics. (eg, attacking an opponent's island can give you the edge you need to win, but also often causes reprisals and limits the treasure you earn from Black Cards) Game actions during your turn include: placing cards (for Treasure Points), rearranging cards (to and from your island and hand), and playing pirate cards (to attack opponents or give yourself advantages). When it is not your turn, you have the opportunity to BLOCK incoming pirate attacks if you have the right matching Color Card in your hand. (Eg, the Captain Card can be stopped by bribing him with a green "Me Time" Color Card) This will stop the attack, but you lose the ability to earn Treasure Points from the card used as a bribe. A game can end in 2 possible ways: 1) When a player goes out (by playing all cards from their hand AND having at least 2 full rainbows on their island) 2) Running out of draw cards Going out does NOT necessarily mean you win, but you do earn a BONUS 5 Treasure Points which often is enough to give you the win. Rainbow Pirate cards are rare in the deck and highly valuable (worth 5 Treasure Points each). They often become the focus of pirate attacks and thievery between players. While valuable, these cards can also become a distraction, tempting players to drain too many resources to obtain them. This game dynamic can result in interesting gameplay and strategies, especially when playing with 3 or more players. -description from designer
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Self-Published)
- Reflexshop
- Goliath Games
- Sweet Bros Games
Questions and answers
Rainbow Pirates 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 Rainbow Pirates is 15–60 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 Rainbow Pirates for ages 7 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.
Rainbow Pirates has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Rainbow Pirates belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Pirates. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and End Game Bonuses. 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 Rainbow Pirates are: Brian Sweet. 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 Rainbow Pirates 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.