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Unexploded Cow

Send a herd of cows across France to find unexploded bombs and win the pot.

Published by
Cheapass Games
Editions by
Portal Games

Unexploded Cow (2001) is a black-comedy money game with a ridiculous premise: summer 1997, mad cows in England, unexploded bombs in France, and a group of creative friends who decide to bring the two together for profit. You buy cows, pay for special effects by throwing money into the pot, then send your herd across the French countryside to find bombs and take money back out. Every town you liberate earns points from the French. The winner is whoever collects enough points to claim the pot, and the pot is where the whole table's nerves live. Expect dice, cards, a lot of bad taste and a title that says everything. A short game for two to six.

Buy cows and fund special effects with the potFind bombs with your herd to take money backEarn points by liberating French towns

Who it's for

You like black-comedy card games with dice, a short playtime and friends who enjoy sick jokes.

Not for you if…

The idea of exploding cows is not funny to you. The humor is half the game.

Vibe's take

Fast, irreverent and a bit wicked. Money disappears into the pot and comes back out in bursts, and the dark humor never lets up.

#5,981 on BGG

of over 30,000 ranked board games

Published 2001 · 25 years ago

older than 92% of games

In 4,165 collections

collected more than 51% of games

2–6 players · ages 6+

Best with 4 · publisher: 12+

about 25 min

shorter than 78% of games · typical 30–90 min

Complexity: light

Explained in 5 minutes · 1.4 out of 5 · lighter than 77%

Opinions: divided

Some love it, others really don’t

Language: some text

Text on cards or in the rules

Play style: competitive