Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
Fans of quick, strategic duels will love Shanghaien. It's easy to learn but packs depth for bluffing and tactics.
Highlights
- Fast and dynamic
- Great for head-to-head
- Accessible strategy
Keep in mind
- 2-player only
- Dice luck involved
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About the game
What you do in a play session
In Shanghaien, you're the captain of a pirate ship hunting for the best crew to rule the seas. Each round, six cards are laid out between players, each corresponding to a number from 1 to 6 (like die faces). These cards feature sailors of different nationalities or special actions that can tweak die results or boost your team. Players roll dice and assign them to cards, battling for influence. When someone decides to 'shanghai,' cards go to whoever has more dice on their side. At the end, the strongest nationality scores victory points based on the weaker team's value—and if you monopolize a color, you score your team's full worth! It's a quick, strategic game ideal for 20-minute duels packed with bluffing and tactics.
Gallery
Box and component photos
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Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
In English
Best player count
BGG community vote
2
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
ABACUSSPIELE
Designer
Michael Schacht, Roman Pelek
Artist
Christian Fiore
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
1,767owners
310wishlist
83want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How many players can play?
Only 2 players—it's designed exclusively for duels.
How long does a game take?
About 20 minutes, perfect for a quick match.
Is it hard to learn?
Nope! Rules are simple, but strategy has depth.
Is language-dependent?
No, the game is language-independent.
Are there expansions?
Yes, extra cards exist, but they're not required to play.
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