River Rats

About this board game

River Rats is a cooperative strategic hand-management game for 1–4 players, with games lasting about 30 minutes. Set aboard a luxurious futuristic riverboat, it puts the crew in a high-stakes poker struggle against bionic River Rats and their upper-class guests.

The Rich Rats force the crew to play poker for their amusement, but the crew can work together to shift the odds. Players craft stronger poker hands through teamwork, clever hand management, and strategic planning, manipulating the game to outplay their wealthy opponents.

Each of the four crew factions is associated with a suit—clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades—and has its own unique abilities. Players must combine these faction powers with their personal special actions, coordinating their choices to outwit the Rich Rats and send them back to their cabins poorer than before.

• Cooperative play: Players take on the roles of the crew and work toward a shared objective.
• Poker hand construction: Build stronger hands while managing the cards and manipulating the game.
• Four distinct factions: Clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades each offer unique abilities.
• Debt-based objective: Defeat both River Rats before the crew reaches its collective Debt limit.

To win River Rats, ensure that both River Rats accumulate five Debt before the crew collectively gains five Debt. Every hand and special action matters as the crew attempts to turn the forced entertainment into a costly lesson for the boat’s powerful passengers.