The Bucket King

Defend pyramids of colored buckets with animal cards; a failed defense sends buckets cascading down.

Designer: Stefan Dorra
Published by: KOSMOS
Editions by: Rio Grande Games

A cascading card game where players defend pyramids of colored buckets by playing animal cards. An attack of matching cards passes around the table, each player either topping the total to pass it on or losing a bucket, and knocking out a low bucket sends every bucket above it tumbling. Last player with buckets standing wins.

Buckets cascade when a low one fallsEscalating color-matched attacks circle the tableMatch the total to reverse play direction

Who it's for

Groups who enjoy light, mean-spirited card games with satisfying cascades and plenty of table conflict.

Not for you if…

You dislike player elimination or take-that; players knocked out early sit and watch, and the luck of the draw can end your run abruptly.

Vibe's take

Cheerfully cutthroat and quick, with the gleeful payoff of watching a rival's bucket stack cascade in one move.