Small Fishes:
Seas the Booty
Recruit a crew of pirate fish and outwit your rivals in a battle of bluff, strategy and treasure. Every round you decide in secret: go fishing to build your crew, or go hunting and fight for the treasure card. Whoever holds the most treasure when the deck runs out wins.
- Flip the treasure, then decide in secret. Each round starts by turning over the top card of the treasure pile. Every player has two indicators, Hunt and Fish; you place one face down, then everyone reveals together. Nobody knows who is coming for the treasure until then.
- Everyone fishes, in rank order. Fishing players take two actions, hunters take one: grab two coins, draw a Tier 1 fish for free, pay one coin for a Tier 2 fish, two coins for a Tier 3, or six coins for one of each. Every fish has a power, a speed and an effect, and faster fish act first.
- Hunters battle for the treasure. Each hunter plays at least one fish face down, then all are revealed. Effects fire by speed, 3 then 2 then 1, and the highest total power wins the treasure and the captain's emblem. Ties go to the higher rank. Fish played in a hunt are spent, so every hunt costs you crew.
- Encounters shake things up. Five encounter cards are shuffled into the treasure pile each game. When one turns up it resolves at once: Black Market makes fishing cheaper, Stormy Seas weakens every fish in the next hunt, Set Sail forces a discard and redraw, Sinking Ship passes the captain's emblem along. Then the next card is flipped.
Everyone starts with five fish, two coins, and a seat at the table. The captain's emblem goes to last game's winner, or to the shortest player.
The tension is the choice. Fishing makes you stronger for later, but the hunters may walk off with a five-point treasure while you stock up. Hunting with a weak crew burns the fish you play.
The game ends when the treasure pile runs out. Most treasure wins, and rank breaks ties.
Full rules video and FAQ- 124 fish cards, 36 unique fish across three tiers
- 15 treasure cards, worth 1 to 5
- 15 encounter cards, five of them shuffled in each game
- 12 indicators, a Hunt and a Fish for each of six players
- 50 coins
- 1 playmat
- 1 captain's emblem
- 1 rulebook
Every Shibling Shop order also comes with pack codes for Small Fishes Online, the free browser game set in the same world.
Designed by Kong, Iris and Michael Shi. Art by Joyce Hu.
A fun game with simple mechanics that still leads to a depth of strategy.
I always keep one in my purse, never leave the house without it!
Big fun for everyone — absolutely HOOKED!
Super fun for both casual and competitive players. Good mix of strategy and replayability, plus the art looks amazing.
It's great for groups and can be addicting because of the game mechanics. Good replay-ability too!
A battle of wits with a deep sea of strategy in every move. The TFT of card games.
How many people can play, and how long does a game take?
Two to six players. A game runs 30 to 60 minutes depending on the table. You can shorten it by playing with fewer treasure cards, or pick your favourite encounters.
What age is it for?
Ages 8 and up. A round has three phases and the rulebook is short; the bluffing is what grows with the players.
Where can I buy it?
From the Shibling Shop for $29.99. Holographic cards, a captain's emblem and a playmat are sold separately.
Is there a video that teaches the rules?
Yes. The how-to-play page has the video and a FAQ on effects, ties and card timing.
Can I play it online?
Not the card game itself, but every shop order includes pack codes for Small Fishes Online, a free browser game set in the same world.