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- An underrated game you haven't heard of
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No complex setup, with little to no time spent learning the rules. Pure adrenaline, packed into sixty second bursts. And it's free!
Got you hooked? Let’s begin!
Some games get the spotlight they truly deserve. Galdor’s Grip, Lantern, and Utopia Engine are names that regularly come up when people talk about amazing PNP experiences, and rightly so. But beyond those familiar favorites, there’s a quieter corner of the print and play world where free gems live and wait to be discovered.
And one of those gems is Leaky Boat.
At first glance, Leaky Boat feels quite simple. You are a sailor drifting through the Caribbean, armed with an ancient map and dreams of being super wealthy. Your goal is clear. Sail to islands, grab treasure chests, and get rich. Then the game pulls the rug out from under you.
Your boat hits razor sharp reefs. Water rushes in. The hull is compromised. And suddenly, every decision feels reckless in the best possible way.
Leaky Boat is a solo PNP designed by Shaun Graham, and its defining feature is time. Each round gives you just one minute. Sixty seconds to roll dice, navigate the map, collect treasure, and patch up a boat that is actively sinking beneath you.
The dice drive your movement and actions, and the pressure to act quickly turns even small choices into tense moments. Do you grab one more chest, knowing it slows you down? Or do you retreat, playing it safe and living to sail another round?
What makes the game special is how physical and urgent it feels. This is not a game you quietly puzzle through. You are rolling dice fast, scanning the board, adjusting your plan on the fly, and constantly aware of the ticking clock. The thrill comes from that balance between greed and survival.
You only need to print a single page, grab seven D6 dice, two small markers/tokens, and something to track a minute. A phone timer works just fine. That’s it.
Despite being labeled a solo game, Leaky Boat was a big hit as a shared experience too. One person can manage the timer, another can roll, and suddenly the table is filled with shouting, laughter, and frantic decisions. The recipe for a fun game night!
Leaky Boat might just be the most underrated game I've played to date. Can we change that?
PS: I’m thrilled Beehiiv gave a nod to my small attempt at connecting the print and play community. If you’re into storytelling like me, why not share your journey through newsletters? 👇
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