Incan Gold: A fun, quick push-your-luck game

Incan Gold: A fun, quick push-your-luck game

Do you continue farther into the temple for more gold? Watch out ... there are hidden dangers within.
Do you continue farther into the temple for more gold? Watch out for hidden dangers within!

This next game has actually gotten a lot of play among all my social circles. Incan Gold is a fun push-your-luck game where you are exploring a temple for gold and treasures. It plays out over five rounds, and the game is about 20 minutes long. The goal is to have the most treasures after five rounds.

The game is easy to learn, and best of all, about the size of a thick book. It’s easy to travel with and can easily fit inside your purse. It’s one of the games in the Bookshelf Series from game publisher Eagle/Gryphon.

Each player receives a tent, where you can store your gems if you leave the temple safely.
Each player receives a tent, where you can store your gems if you leave the temple safely.

The game comes with little tents for each player and pretty gemstones representing the treasure. On each turn, a card is flipped up. If it has gems and a number on it, the gems are split evenly among the players as best as it can. Any remaining gems would be left on the card. Then every player can decide if he or she wants to continue deeper into the temple or to go home, where you can store your gems safely inside your tent. All players simultaneously reveal their card to continue or go home. Those who decided to go home will split the remaining gems on the cards, and then put their gems inside their tent. Those players are out for the round.

Should I stay or should I go? The left card is to return to your tent, while the other means continue.
Should I stay or should I go? The left card is to return to your tent, while the other says continue.

For those who decided to continue, a new card is flipped over. It may be more gems or it can be one of five dangers. Eeeks!! Nothing happens yet, but if a second danger card of the same type is revealed anytime during the round, those players who are still exploring inside the temple go home empty-handed. There are five different dangers, each with three cards each. If a danger attacks a group, the round ends and one of those danger cards are removed from the game.

The next round begins, and everybody plays again.  There’s a special gem that is added to the deck with each round that’s worth 5 or 10 points (depending on the round). It’s special because you have to be the only person to leave to claim the prize; it doesn’t split among players.

The various cards that can come into play: gem cards (left and 2nd left), treasure card (center), and danger cards (last two on right).
The various cards that can come into play: gem cards (left and 2nd left), treasure card (center), and danger cards (last two on right).

My friends and I love playing this game because it really separates those who like the gamble vs. those who like to play it safe.  Some people we already immediately know will leave after the few turns, while others, like myself, like to push-my-luck all the way to the end, and hopefully turn out victorious.

What are some of your favorite small push-your-luck games?

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