At first, it looks like a straightforward race for treasure. Build your crew, upgrade your ship, and try to outmanoeuvre rival captains before they get there first. But the longer the game goes on, the more dangerous the seas become...
Pirates Dragons Treasure is a competitive pirate board game where players slowly prepare for battles they might not survive. Recently revived for a second Kickstarter campaign, the game mixes fast-paced ship building with monster fights that can quickly change the course of the entire session.
A Kickstarter Return
Originally released back in 2022, Pirates Dragons Treasure has now returned to Kickstarter with a brand new second edition. And while the premise sounds wonderfully chaotic, the game itself is designed to be surprisingly approachable. Sessions last around 20 to 40 minutes, making it much lighter than many strategy-heavy board games currently on the market.
The setup is fairly straightforward. Every player selects a captain with their own special ability, then begins assembling a crew capable of surviving increasingly dangerous encounters. Along the way, ships can be upgraded with new equipment and abilities, gradually turning little boats into war machines!
But unlike many engine-building board games, Pirates Dragons Treasure doesn’t reward players for sitting back too long and crafting the perfect strategy. Waiting around comes with serious risks.
The Real Threat
That’s because dragons act as the game’s looming boss battles, and any player can choose to challenge one once they think they’re strong enough. Defeat the beast, and the game may end immediately - or escalate into an even bigger threat, depending on how many dragons the group decided to include before the session began.
This creates a constant balancing act between preparation and speed. Spend too much time improving your ship, and another player may swoop in and steal the glory. Rush into battle too early, though, and your crew could end up dragon food before the game really gets going...
The second edition Kickstarter also introduces additional content for players who want more variety. Alongside the core game, backer can pick up the Coldspire booster pack, which adds extra dragons, new captains and additional cards to shake up future playthroughs. That added replayability feels particularly important for a game built around short sessions.
Final Thoughts
The Kickstarter campaign for the new edition is live now until May 28th. For players looking for something lighter than an all-day strategy epic, but more dramatic than a simple party game, Pirates Dragons Treasure is the game for you!
