Learn To Play

You and your enemy each control a fleet of 5 pirate ships on boards hidden from each other’s view.

Your goal is to either track down and destroy your enemy’s ships or hunt for treasure.

There are 2 ways to win the game:

  • By sinking 3 enemy ships. Most games end this way. If at any point either you or your enemy’s fleet has 3 sunken ships, the game ends. The person with more ships afloat wins. If both you and your opponent simultaneously have 3 sunken ships, it’s a tie (but this is rare).

  • By completing a treasure hunt. About 20% of games end this way. This sequence involves obtaining a special card from the deck, then sailing a particular ship to islands on your board. If you are successful, you win the game.

You reach these objectives by doing actions on your turn and using tools you gain from the deck of cards.

There are 3 kinds of cards in the deck: Play Now, Action, and Defense. Some of the Play Now cards are hazardous and some are helpful. Action and Defense cards always help you.

Start each turn by drawing 1 card. Then, do 1 action—you have 7 to choose from: Draw 2 More Cards, Play 1 Action Card, Powder Monkey (Fire 3 Shots), Raid the Navy, Repair 1 Damage, Move Your Ship(s), and Lookout with the Spyglass or Crow’s Nest.

Doubloons allow you to extend your turn to do another action, and also salvage ships, defend against mutiny, and release the kraken. You’ll obtain doubloons by raiding the Navy or drawing certain cards.

Islands provide your ships shelter from hazardous weather and the chance to use certain advantageous cards. You start with 1 home island and may discover more later by drawing certain cards.

Monitor your enemy on your sea chart, using your own notation system. Note where you’ve searched, what you’ve hit, and anything else that helps your strategy.

Ship tiles help you keep track of which ships are sunken and afloat.

With countless strategies to explore and unpredictable outcomes in every game, Cutthroat Cannons promises endless excitement and a new adventure each time you set sail.

Get ready to chart your course to victory!

Watch The Video

Coming soon: a video to teach you the game!

In the meantime, check out this stop motion video to get a feel for the gameplay…