Crows Overkill

About this board game

Crows Overkill is a 15-minute elimination game for 2–4 players, in which guests at a red-light district try to remain longer than their rivals.

Inspired by an old song associated with Takasugi Shinsaku and the red-light districts of mid-1800s Japan, the game turns longing for a little more time into a contest of birds, cards, and timing. Crows, warblers, and roosters gather in front of the players, threatening to cry and send them home.

Each turn, cards are drawn from two decks. Bird cards are placed in front of the current player, while shamisen cards enter that player’s hand. The player then uses shamisen cards to eliminate birds before checking the time board.

1. Draw cards from the bird and shamisen decks.
2. Place the drawn birds in front of the current player and add shamisen cards to their hand.
3. Play shamisen cards to eliminate birds.
4. Check the time board to see whether the remaining birds cry.

If the birds in front of a player cry, that player must leave the red-light district and drops out of the game. Players therefore need to manage the birds gathered before them and use their available shamisen cards to delay the moment when they are called away.

The turns continue as the guests attempt to outlast one another. In Crows Overkill, the player who stays in the red-light district the longest—and is the last player remaining—is declared the winner.