Pirate Board Games
Board and card games on the topic of pirates.
Thu Dec 27 05:12:58 UTC 2007

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The medieval knight. The lonesome cowboy. The hard-boiled detective. The dread pirate. Are there any more admired archetypes of mythical lore than these nomadic powerhouses who ranged far and wide over dangerous landscapes, real or metaphorical. But of all those who have captured the imagination of the ages, has any better answered the darker and more iconoclastic side of our collective nature than the pirate? Leaving the comforts of home for a life on the endless sea, these buccaneers of the Caribbean were fearless, ferocious and if truth-be-told, little better than rapacious killers and thieves. They walked on the wrong side of the law, of decency, of society and in many cases, got away with it. They engender our sympathetic interest, if only because they dared the many perils of the sea in mere wooden sailing ships, as well as the wrath and might of Imperial navies. On the other hand, buried treasures, fun lingo and funky attire probably never hurt either!

Contents:

Pirate Games
Expansion Kits
Science Fiction Pirates
Role-playing Games
For Children
Miniatures Games
Party Games
Publishing Chronology of Pirate Games NEW!
See Also

more: link to a capsule review on this site.
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B: link to the boardgamegeek.com database.
L: link to the Luding database.

Two to four players compete in this three-hour game that permits playing either merchant or pirate in the Caribbean. In-depth rules for ship building and trade are included. Simultaneous action selection is used. By the numbers, there are five different ship types, sixteen different captains and over two hundred cards. B L

Two to four players in a simple Risk-like war game conducted in the seas and islands clustered around a large central island with many bays. B L

There is not too much of pirates in the game of Asterix and the ancient Gauls against Caesar and the ancient Romans, but there are pirate cards which reduce winnings. B L

Piracy on the high seas, not just of the Caribbean, but also in the Gold Coast and Indian Ocean. Pirates may even relocate between oceans in this war game of great atmosphere which sometimes irks players because the turn order is random and they feel they have to wait too long in between. Features a large number of differently-rated pirate cards with historical notes and even a Captain Blood. Long and detailed, for many this is the definitive pirate game. more G B L

The first title in Milton Bradley's Gamemaster series is a light war game of two ships facing off against one another. First players maneuver ships using cards, firing as they pass. The eventually come together which permits boarding actions. The plastic ships, being a foot long with masts, pirate figures, and cannon, are amazing, though this was not part of the original 1982 self-published edition. B L

The board shows the sea as a square grid with a home port for each player. Heaped on the central islands are diamonds, rubies, pearls, gold and rum. Ships can be attacked and their treasures and crew captured. Perhaps this game helped inspired Privateer? B L B L link link

Set collection game in which players must choose from the best stack. Some cards may let you take more cards from other stacks or steal some from opponents. It's very much a matter of looking ahead to see what effects your actions will have. The pirate theme is really only reflected in the card and box illustrations. B L

Rather abstract game for two or three featuring various scenarios related to the career of the infamous Captain Kidd, the gentlemen assigned to catch pirates but who turned into one. It's a move-and-capture game with clever positioning challenges. more B L

For 3-6 to play on four color map pieces depicting mostly sea on a square grid with a few named or numbered islands. Dice determine which islands contain treasure and dice are used again to move and yet once more to fire on enemies. There are five types of treasures – similar to Buccaneer – and bonuses are provided for bringing back a haul that contains many types. The winner games the legendary name of "Captain Treasure Boots". B

The players represent men who once were pirates, but now languish in a dank, South American prison. But, now they are set to escape to a waiting rowboat. Trouble is, it only has limited space so players attempt to be the first to escape their six prisoners. Movement is based on the positions of all of the pieces on the board which greatly rewards planning and understanding of the likely activities of the other players. At the same time the rule details are so light that the game is quite pleasureable. more B L

In the sequel to the above, the escapees have reached an island which they must now cross, row to another island, cross it and finally reach safte haven. Once again ovement is based on the positions of all of the pieces on the board which greatly rewards planning and understanding of the likely activities of the other players. Just as fun as the original, if not more so. more B L

Using the 300 card set, players first building their pirate fleet, then sail out and try to fight their opponents, and the occasional sea monster. The winder is the player who brings back the most treasure. Sounds like a "take that" game. B L

Desktop-published game with some assembly and dice required. Includes a battle game played by up to two or a campaign game for 2-4. There are basic and advanced rules, the latter using an Ace of Aces type of system to track the opposing ship. Possible roles in the campaign game are pirate, privateer, merchant or galleon, each having different goals. The map shows the Caribbean with six ports and two sea zones. Destinations are selected secretly and revealed simultaneously. Combat may occur when players meet. Encounter tables apply elsewhere. B L

Two player abstract with a very light veneer of competing pirate bands played out on a grid. Players earn points for occupying squares, some of which confer extra points, and earn extra points for large connected groups according to a schedule. Before play each player receives half the sequentially numbered cards and allocates from a sub-deck of eight each turn. These are simultaneously revealed and resolved in numerical order. Although the purpose of most cards is simply to place a piece, a few specials grant greater powers, e.g. removing an opponent's piece, flipping some, sliding a row to knock an opponent off the edge or removing a group of opponents surrounding one's own pieces. more B L

According to its creator, "River Pirates" is an evil game, but also a fun one. Two players are sitting together in a boat and try to row against the river to get a treasure. A short way before the treasure, sometimes a player throws his friend out of the boat and he tries to get the treasure alone. This is evil, but dangerous too. If you throw the other players out very often, at the end of the game nobody wants to sit in a boat together with you and so you will lose the game. If you want to win the game, you have to keep most of your promises. So, if you want, this game is a lesson for life for evil players; almost always the friendlier players win. B L

There are 60 sailor cards which are all distributed to the players. They also get ship and shipment bonus cards. The sailors are each rated for Attack, Defense, Name and Special ability. Then players announce how much treasure they commit to bring back, the boldest of them becoming caption of corsairs and choosing his team. The rest are sailing merchants. The two teams compete. An attack occurs when a pirate picks a target. Each combatant chooses three cards which are turned over one at a time, sort of like the card game War, but more complicated since cards have multiple attributes. If a corsair loses twice it is captured instead of being the capturer. There is a duel mechanism in case of ties. The sailors have names like Ben, Crack, Loop, Samsar, Trigg, etc. The game sounds a bit like Slapshot as well. B L

In "Freebooter" players place boats according to cards in hand, trying to be part of a team capturing a prize. The theme is pretty abstract. B L

Gorgeously-illustrated game about sea trading in northern Europe. Credit Frank Gerwin for wonderful period-feel graphics – his work is more often seen in role-playing games. Pirates are not a big part of the game, but there are pirate cards and a pirate ship that players take turns moving. This is one of the only games to feature the less well-known Vitalienbrüder or Vitalian Brotherhood, feared pirates of the North and Baltic Seas. more B L

Trick-taking card game with adjunct board. Before each hand players each bid a secret hand card to determine trump. The highest card wins and yet is removed from play. The color of the led card corresponds to an on-board ship illustration which the trick winner gets to occupy. As they fill up, earlier players are kicked off onto a penalty track somewhat akin to that of Adel Verpflichtet. On top of this, taken tricks can be given away – the two players who end with the most cards suffer penalties. Not particularly thematic, although nicely produced. Accommodates 3-5 players. more B L

Wargame about raiding and trading on the Caribbean Sea for up to four players. Players are basically traders, but when they run across one another can act as pirates, if they have managed to build up some fighting ability. Very detailed; almost feels as if it needs a computer aide. more B L

Game for up to six of exploration and combat. Players control ships which begin at the center of a sea formed by face down cards. Sailing reveals the cards which come in the following flavors: open sea, open sea with blocking ice, storm, treasure map fragment, extra crew, treasure island. Player travel is fueled by the wind which changes on every storm encounter, i.e. not overly often, and is directed by player desires to acquire the various ship upgrades located at the six corners. These enhance either movement, – main sail, jib, icebreaker – combat, – cannon, grappling hook – or discovery/pick-up – telescope. Only three of each are available and the later one arrives, the more they cost in crew. Eventually someone finds all three map fragments and recovers the treasure, at which point the second phase begins: all attempt to seize the booty by combat and escape the map off the northern edge. Production is pretty good – it comes in a clear plastic bag, but the cards are fairly sturdy and packaged in re-usable sleeves. The plastic chips are gambling sized and though hardly thematic, are at least a pleasure to handle. Card artwork is cartoonish rather than classic. more B L

From the novel of the same name, 1840's trading in Canton, Hong Kong, India and Europe. Players sail clipper ships from England to India where they buy up opium, from India to China where they sell the opium and pick up silk, tea and spices and then race back to England. Each clipper sailing is a race in which greater profits are realized for coming first, and realized in ways that are very sensible for the theme. Pirates are not a major part of this game, but the less well-known South Seas pirates do make an appearce in the form of cards. more B L

Two to six players sail their galleons around the islands of a fantasy worlds, intending to eventually bring them to home port in the center. Movement is via wind disk which changes the wind direction in a predictable way every three turns. Players must take care not to run aground. Sailing off one edge of the map places a ship on the opposite edge. Storms arise via dice and become impassable areas. Players hamper one another via war ships, each player controlling one. Play ends when the first player collects a fixed amount of treasure. Said to last sixty minutes. B L

"Captain Flint's Treasure" was published in a book. There is a map showing a number of different ship routes. Each player is dealt four cards corresponding to map locations. On a turn a player asks another for a card which, if it's held, must be handed over. The winner is the one to get four connected destinations. B L

The world map has six areas with four harbors each. Players sail about buying and selling. A die roll indicates what can be sold. Storm cards can make others lose their loads. Meeting other ships can result in a fight. Eventually someone becomes a pirate and tries to eliminate the rest by landing on them. The pirate is faster than the other ships so players need to use their cards that allow for long sails or send a storm after the pirate. But if the pirate dies another player becomes pirate until eventually there is only one player left. It is an elimination game and some will be waiting for it to end with nothing to do. B L

In the 18th century Caribbean six pirate ships are available to pillage ports or rob other ships. All players move the pirate ships (via bribery) and try to get treasures into their own ports. B L

Auction and negotiation game set in the Mediterranean of the fifteenth century. Pirate ships are available for players to hire out (or hire away) and wreak havoc. more B L

Auction and negotiation game set in the Caribbean of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Players can represent anyone from Spanish viceroys to Cardinal Richelieu to Sir Walter Raleigh or Sir Francis Drake or yet others. It is assymmetric in that one player controls the treasure fleet (who it is can change) which sails every ten turns while the others can be pirates if they wish. But it's the fact of two ways to make money that is the point of the game, the other being to sail as a merchant to willing colonies, an activity that earns both the fleet and the colony owner gold. more B L

Players represent various identical characters aboard a ship. Each round they choose roles and may do things such as trade and mutiny. Cards make up a world of places. Card art is quite nice, especially so because of the consistent look across all of the cards. more B L

Trade, piracy, warfare, plunder, raids and crew training in a number of different Atlantic Ocean scenarios. Includes stand-up counters for six players, record sheets and a 17x33" map. Can be combined with with Pacific Passage (Pacific Ocean) and/or Passage to Cathay (Indian Ocean) for a larger game. Some reviewers complain about component quality. B L

Auction game of buying the rights of the five best crewmembers who then may or may not perform as you wish. B L

Negotiation game of collecting the most treasures. Features variable powers in the form of differently-abled characters. Bluffing is a big part of the scene. For 3-7 players. B L

Trade, piracy, warfare, plunder, raids and crew training in a number of different Pacific Ocean scenarios. Includes stand-up counters for six players, record sheets and a 17x33" map. Can be combined with with Middle Passage (Atlantic Ocean) and/or Passage to Cathay (Indian Ocean) for a larger game. Some reviewers complain about component quality. B L

Trade, piracy, warfare, plunder, raids and crew training in a number of different Indian Ocean scenarios. Includes stand-up counters for six players, record sheets and a 17x33" map. Can be combined with with Pacific Passage (Pacific Ocean) and/or Middle Passage (Atlantic Ocean) for a larger game. Some reviewers complain about component quality. B L

Buy ships, outfit them with officers, crewmen, cargo and supplies. Engage in attacks on merchant vessels and on other pirates. Embark on treasure hunts and engage in commercial trade. Said to be similar to Piratenbucht. B L

Two to five players compete in this ninety minute game, recruiting a crew, taking on missions and hoping to attack the Spanish Treasure fleet. B L

2002 re-release features much nicer packaging and Franz Vohwinkel card artwork. Players either play a merchant ship from hand or a card to attack one. more B L

"Paraguayan Pirates" is a Brazilian-made alternate history wargame for two simulating the War of the Triple Alliance (Paraguayan War, 1864-70) in which Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay took on Paraguay. In this realization, Paraguay, the real life loser, does receive the ships they had ordered from Europe and also develops a line of ironclad warships. Out of print, but possibly available in downloadable form from the publisher. The name Riachuelo comes from the deciding naval battle of the war. B L

Is a rather simple matter of players making three consecutive secret bids over three treasures before replenishing their hands. more B L

Action game for up to four played on a raised linen platform overlaid with a wooden grid. Players use wooden mallets strike under painted balls, attempting to reach the opposite edge – which scores a point – or into the space of another – thereby capturing it. Strategy is hard to find, so dominant is the skill factor. An American company is selling it under the title Cannonball Capture. It's unclear whether there is prior art in this regard or whether Wittig and Abacus are being shamelessly knocked off. more B L

Employs the tried-and-true "simultaneously select a location" mechanic. The six island locations include one for each of the four different ship attributes (hull, crew, cannon, sails) one wishes to enhance, one for drawing special cards and one for burying treasure, i.e. scoring points. In addition, each island provides randomly-determined free goodies such as gold, treasure and cards. But peril rears its head when players run into one another and either shoot it out by playing cards and rolling plenty of dice or flee – fortunately, flight or defeat still provides a nice consolation prize. The wooden sloops and very attractive artwork (by Markus Wagner & Swen Papenbrock) add quite a lot to this feeling. more B L

A roll-and-move game with many action cards. rules B L

A treasure is buried at one of six locations and a group of river pirates divide into four groups to find it. Dice are used to move. Rolling doubles causes an event, some of which are beneficial. Attacks on opponents are possible and resolved with dice. The goal is to get the treasure back to ship, even if you are not the one who found it. Kind of a role-playing game, if very lightly so, but probably not balanced at all. B L B L

Two-player game in which players attempt to deduce where on the 15 space board a treasure is located. Title means "Pirate Treasure". Only one player is active. The other simply reports on his progress, similar to Mastermind. B L

Two pirate crews are on an island. One tries to find the hidden treasure and the other tries to prevent this. Simple deduction game using roll-and-move as well as cards and questions. B L

Roll the dice to determine which tile you take. This represents the distance you may move, but if you roll the "black" you are a pirate for the turn, meaning that if you can land on another ship you can take half their money. Supports up to four players. B L

Players try to collect four parts of a treasure, either from the island or by relieving the other pirates of their shares. Supports up to six players. rules B L

Not much is known about this pirate game from the golden age. B

Card game about piracy on the high seas has players competing to be the first to collect three thousand pieces of eight. First they must steal a ship by rolling six pips or more on two dice. This is basically a "take that" game with a few novelties. more B L

Multi-player card game of the classic Caribbean pirate era. Players create the map as they go using cards. There are rules for buying and selling at ports, discovering treasure, taking merchants, ship upgrades, wars, letters of marque and inter-player combat. more B L

A trick-taking card game where it's unnecessary to follow suit and each trick is for a different stake. B L

Two to five players 9 and up can participate in this movement and collection game. At the pirate hideout the pritaes take part in various competions – fighting, drinking, ... – trying to gain as much fame as possible. Includes 76 plastic figures and 200 tiles.
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Abstract with ostensible theme of up to four pirates fighting over treasure. Player pieces travel on a grid using dice to move as in Backgammon. more B L

Taken from the R.L. Stevenson story, "Treasure Island" is a two player game in which the sailors and the pirates each try to bring seven treasure chests to their own ships. The trouble is getting them through the jungle which is made up of 19 discs which are changed each turn. B L

Inspired by the R.L. Stevenson story, "Treasure Island" is a lightweight tile-laying game for up to four. B L

Two players try to figure out the exact coordinates of R.L. Stevenson's "Treasure Island". One knows the latitude, the other the longitude and they spy on one another to deduce the other. B L

Originally about building gangs and cracking safes, but later re-published as a game about pirate crews. Rules are simple, but a lot of thought needed to win. more B L

In this collectible card game for two each player starts with a ship which he strengthens by acquiring crew and items. B L

War game for four players, two representing Spanish and two British. Features cardplay to cross the Atlantic and resolve battles while being an exploration game for the discovery of the New World (Caribbean islands handled abstractly). A rare war game with German-style game mechanics. more B L

Multi-player game in which players bid cards and roll dice to take over merchant galleys of varying values. Features plenty of strategy and tactics, being overall light and elegant as well, but overlong with dice luck playing a too considerable role in the outcome. Title is a reference to Klaus Störtebeker, a pirate figure in fourteenth-century Baltic Sea history. more B L B L

Players represent brawling characters aboard a ship or in a tavern. Probably the heaviest of the games here as players must plan out every minuscule action the play to take, e.g. throwing things, toppling tables, using weapons, etc. Supports up to 6 players. B L

Two player game including 64 cards. Cards are played in a grid trying to arrange that by the end your pirate ships take the best prizes. But it's tricky because all plays must be to the left side first, where the order of cards is always (from left) pirate, merchant, treasure, seas, battle determiner (will it be crew, sails or cannon?). Sounds very much a tactical lookhead type of game where the main decision each turn is whether to fatten your own chances or narrow those of the opponent. There are also event cards which throw in some randomness. B L

On a turn, a player rolls a pair of dice and is able to place his counter on a square bearing that number. By continually doing this certain areas become cut off from the rest of the board and therefore the treasures within can be claimed by those players, if any are indeed there. Supports up to six players. B

Players navigate a grid of unknown tiles attempting to construct a treasure chest with what they find. Includes a memory element. B L

Three to five compete for points via different means including plundering ports, finding treasure and boarding opponent ships. Random tiles determine the port values and treasure locations. There are also action cards. B L

Not really a pirate game, but the Catanians are no longer subject only to the depredations of the robber baron, but must also worry about the pirate who harries them at sea. more B L

Not a pirate game at all, but this expansion for Talisman, the fantasy adventure game, adds the Pirate as one of the characters who can be played. more B L

Basically a variant on the Material World base game. more B L

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Not a pirate game at all, but this expansion for Talisman, the fantasy adventure game, adds the Space Pirate as one of the characters who can be played. more B L

Players represent time agents going back into history to collect and then sell artifacts for big profits. more B L

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This is an adventure book for which the player needs to supply a writing implement. Abdul is a lowly pirate trying to become king of all of the pirates in a fantasy domain. A race to the island Nippur has been arranged with the winner to claim the title. Many surprises await along the way. B L

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Playable by one to four players aged 3 and up. This premiered at Essen and sold for DM 24. B L

Players retrieve treasures and need to sail home before they can be captured by other players. Players roll to move. Special cards can be used to overcome difficulties. B L

Up to 8 players aged at least six can participate in this game of making money at sea. Initially everyone is an honest merchant, but they may draw a card giving the option to become a pirate, or, another which permits them to be warships who hunt pirates. Identities are kept secret, however, until necessity forces them to be revealed. The board is a square grid representation of an abstract world. B L

Television tie-in game for up to 6 aged 7 and up. Players roll dice to move, hoping to land on spaces containing a treasure chest, each of which varies in value. Landing on another's ship is an attack, three of which sink a ship. B L

In "Stranded in Pirate Waters" 2-4 players 5 and up work together to escape their deserted island via makeshift raft and hoping to avoid nearby pirates for being caught costs valuable time and supplies. Roll-and-move appears to be the main mechanism. Winner of the 1991 German Childrens Game of the Year Award. B L

Game for 3-5 aged 8 and up. A treasure map has turned up and multiple pirates arrive at the archipelago looking for the chests and trying to avoid the ghost guarding them. B L

Game for 2-4 which is won by engaging in trade at ports or by plundering from opposing captains. Movement is by roll of two dice, combat by each player rolling a single die. Comes in a wooden treasure chest and includes a board in the form of an aged treasure map, three knuckle bones (dice), four treasure sacks, four die cast metal ships, one wind cube, forty-eight Dread Pirate cards, four map cards, fifty replica doubloons, 120 treasure jewels, rulebook and a captain's log. First edition recalled for having lead content. B L

This expansion to Dread Pirate adds player-specific missions and action cards, i.e. more engagements and adventures. B L

In "River Pirates" up to four players, 8 and up, try to place their river tiles as directed by a special die. Inability to do so forces picking up some river tiles instead. The goal is to be the first rid of all of one's tiles. There isn't a strong connection to the pirates theme here, but one is pictured on the box cover. B L

Shoot at your opponent's ship and try to win by tipping it over. B L

Two to four players aged 7 and up roll dice to move, being able to go in any direction. Their goals are treasure chests. Blackbeard's ghost may also be moved to hinder the other players. You also could get the chance to walk the plank or fire the cannon. B L

Galleons sail the Caribbean racing to islands for treasure. Said to have beautiful artwork. B L

Shoot down stand up cardboard pirates with a toy gun using a cork for a bullet. B L

Movement is by spinner as players try to be the first to win the race around a set of islands. B L

Flint's treasure has been found and now the race is on. Whoever possesses the most gold after 10 treasure searches wins the game. Basically this is a Whist variant. B L

Up to four players obtain ships, captain and crew and attempt to take loot from the treasure ship, or failing that, the other player who has it, burying the goods on Treasure Island and returning with the map. Includes dice, four metal ships and various cards and tokens. Sounds like a simple roll-and-move as well as roll-and-fight affair. B L

Under direction of a spinner, players attempt to balance pirates and barrels on a wobbly ship. B L

Two to four play on a map of the world, each spinning a dial to reach the secret destination indicated on a card. When ten cards have been completed by a player, all become pirates and can begin to steal when landing on an opponent. Sounds similar to Pachisi, but does feature player elimination. B L

This is one of the titles of four games in a heavy board page book. A cut out in the cover has a dial to spin when playing the games. Each of the four games comprises a two-page layout, the other games being Peter Rabbit, Air Base and Safety First. B L

For 2-6 players aged 5 and up. Otherwise nothing is known about this game. L

Card placement and movement game with a risk management element. Comes in a plastic bottle which also contains a working compass and a small sailing ship. B L

Pirate Chase for is a children's game made with the participation of playmobil. The pirate captain travels from island to island searching for a new crew. (If he needs a crew, what is he sailing with? If he already has a crew, what is he going to do with the old one when he has the new?) Players are trying to get all their crewmembers hired out. But unfortunately, new crewmembers keep coming to him. The captain is moved via the die. If he rests next to an occupied space, the player may put one of his pirates aboard. But other spaces can cause loss of a priate, in which case the player may risk rolling again. If the captain reaches a full space, the player has to take off all the pirates and add them to his crew. The winning player is the one who gets rid of all of his crew members. B L

Four players 3 and up try to rescue their abducted friends. One variant is suitable for players 8 and up. B L

Roll-and-move game to grab treasures, but with a further phase in which the treasure is stored in one side or the other of the player's private treasure chest. As the game progresses, the chest's position gets altered by opponents and the player must aleways remember which part has the treasure. Supports up to four players aged 6 and up. Winner of the 2000 German Children's Game of the Year award. B L

Dexterity game for up to four players aged 6 and up divers trying to retrieve undersea treasures (plastic pieces) from a sunken ship using tweezers and without disturbing the octopus. Very similar to the surgery game, Operation. B L

Up to 5 players aged at least 6 can play in this Oh, Hell style game where the cards and board have a nautical theme. Taking tricks advances the ship on the board, which has some hazards and safe spots. B L

Includes 3-dimensional board, 4 ships, 20 treasure chests, 1 sea monster, 2 dice. Players must collect a preset number of gold coins to win. Roll the die to move the ship that number of spaces or less. Moving over a treasure lets the player attract it to the ship via magnetism. However, sailing over a reef causes the treasure to be lost. The sea monster is awakened by certain dice results and permit the player to move it. This makes the monster's lair safe to pass through, but also means that the monster can sink an opponent's ship. The storm result blows a ship off course. The pirate result permits stealing another player's treasure. [rules] B

A roll-and-move game for up to four players at least 6 years of age. In this one the players are trying to avoid the pirates. B

No other information is available for this game of the golden age. B?

Two to four players set out with a blank treasure map, on the way encountering quicksand and other pirates. Each player operates on his own board – set up by an opponent – as a solo game. Memory is an important element. B

Players 3 and up try to slide swords into a barrel. But a wrong move makes the pirate fly out the top, much to everyone's shock and surprise. B L

Played on a square grid board accurately showing a portion of of the 18th century Caribbean. A treasure chest is "buried" in one of ten possible locations. Each player's ship goes searching and must also contend with dangerous waters and rival ships while pickin up clues. For 2-4 aged 8 and up. B L

First players fight over the treasure map, then travel to the place to get the treasure and finally try to escape with the treasure. Dice play a prominent role. Notable for its beautiful hex map board and metal miniatures. B L

Players represent pirates trying to locate and steal the treasure of the unfortunately-named Captain Skull and escape with it before he returns. Special cards are used to move about the board as players visit locations, collect location cards and try to find keys to open the chest. Includes an optional video tape which runs as the game progresses and interrupts play from time to time so that the captain can intervene and take actions to hinder the players. The tape lasts an hour which should provide the maximum game duration. B L

For 2-3 children aged 4 and up. Includes 1 ship capable of holding 18 cardboard playing pieces, 7 chips and a die. Based on the die roll, players must place a figure on the ship wi without causing it to capsize and without knocking down other figures. B L

Includes 107 cards. Basically merchant ships are dealt out and players commit hand cards to fire on them. Or boarding parties (which beat cannons) or storms (which mess up cannons) can be used. After three rounds the player with the most shots on a ship gains its treasure. At the end, the governor is captured by the player holding the best hand card. B L

Little is known about this game from the golden age, but it is said to accept 2-4 players aged 8-adult. B

Game for two children aged 6 and up. As in the famous novel, they first travel on land from the inn to the harbor at Bristol. There they board a ship to the island, seeking the treasure. Two small compasses are included. B

Two to four children of age 4 and above move ships by rolling as many colored dice as there are players. If any player's piece ends next to the plank the others shout "Walk the plank!" and the player must return to the start. The goal of this race is collecting four pieces of treasure. B L

Three to nine children of age 8 and above can play this trick-taking game of 68 cards divided into five suites: doubloons, hooks, monkeys, parrrots and peg-legs. Since players don't choose the card they play, instead only turning up the top one from their decks, the game goes very fast, lasting only five minutes on average. Amazon B L

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According to the creator, grown men and women sit on the floor and push toy pirate ships around, going "Arrrr!" more B L

Rules for aval battles using 25mm scale ships and miniature figures. more B L

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Played with pieces by LEGO. B

Drinking game played by spinning a tee-totum. Includes nice coin pieces. L

This is a very simple dice game with results depending on solely on what is rolled. Appears to have some very nice coin pieces. B L

Murder mystery game for up to 12 children, non-gender-specific. Can you find the missing treasure and return it to its rightful owner? Part of the "How to Host a Party" series. It's a non-murder game and the culprit does not know who he is. B L

• Pirate Games by Bruno Faidutti.
• The Outlaw Sea is the latest book on the world of pirates.