Splut!

About this board game

Splut! is a 2–4-player abstract strategy board game with a fantasy theme, a chess-like look, and an average play time of 20 minutes. In a shared arena, each player controls a team made up of a Troll, a Dwarf, and a Sorcerer.

The goal is simple: eliminate every opposing Sorcerer. However, players do not attack pieces directly. Instead, they maneuver their team around the board, use the four available Rocks, and look for the right moment to send one flying across the arena.

• Troll: moves to a Rock and throws it at an opposing Sorcerer.
• Dwarf: pushes other pawns to disrupt positioning.
• Sorcerer: levitates Rocks into place and leads the team.

During each turn, you have three moves to make with your pawns. Clever movement is essential: a Dwarf can shift the position of other pieces, a Sorcerer can prepare a Rock, and a Troll can turn that setup into a decisive attack. Every move can change the danger across the arena, so players must watch both their own Sorcerer and their opponents’ plans.

With only three pieces per team and four Rocks in play, Splut! offers a compact ruleset with plenty of tactical possibilities. It combines the recognizable appearance of chess with sudden, chaotic projectile attacks and a playful fantasy setting.

Originally released in 2009, Splut! is also designed to be printed and played for free. If you enjoy short abstract games that reward positioning, timing, and inventive movement, this rock-throwing battle offers a distinctive twist on the classic strategy game.