One flip to rule them all
Most board games spend twenty minutes just explaining how to set up the board. Not this one. Captain Flip sells its entire premise in a single heartbeat: reach into a bag, look at one side of a tile, and decide if you’re happy. If you aren’t? Flip it. But here’s the kicker—you’re stuck with whatever is on the back. It’s a pure, uncut shot of “push your luck” adrenaline that fits right in your pocket.
Designed by the duo Paolo Mori and Remo Conzadori and brought to life by the folks at PlayPunk, this game handles 2 to 5 players in about 20 minutes. It’s light enough for an 8-year-old but clever enough that the Spiel des Jahres judges gave it a nod for the 2024 awards. You know a game has “legs” when the hardcore gatekeepers and the casual Sunday afternoon crowd both want to play it.
The brains behind the boat
PlayPunk isn’t some massive corporate machine. They’re a tight-knit outfit operating out of Liège, Belgium. If you check the rulebook, you’ll see industry legend Antoine Bauza—the guy who gave us 7 Wonders—and Thomas Provoost credited with the development.
Honestly, you can feel that veteran touch. Bauza once mentioned in an interview that they wanted to take good games and make them “great.” Captain Flip is exactly that. It’s compact, the art by Jonathan Aucomte is sharp, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. It feels like a craft project rather than a mass-produced product.
What’s actually in that bag?
Inside the box, you’ll find 72 double-sided tiles. Since each side is different, you’re basically juggling 144 characters. You’ve also got coins, a Treasure Map, and some double-sided adventure boards. The graphic design by Alexis Vanmeerbeeck is clean enough that you can read the table from across the room, even after a glass of wine.
The game ends when someone fills four of their five columns. It’s a classic race. At first, you’re just happy to be recruiting a crew. By the end? You’re in full-on triage mode, desperately trying not to sink your own ship.
How to Play
The loop is tighter than a sailor’s knot. You draw a tile, look at one side, and make a choice. Keep it or flip it. Then, you drop it into the lowest empty spot in a column.
You resolve the effects, grab some coins, and pass the bag. It’s fast. Like, “don’t look at your phone or you’ll miss your turn” fast. Everything comes down to the coins. The richest captain wins, and the Treasure Map acts as the ultimate tie-breaker. Simple, right? Well, until you meet the crew.
Meeting the colorful (and dangerous) crew
The characters are where the real drama happens. Each one teaches you a different lesson about greed.
The Gunner: She gives you 5 coins instantly. Sounds great? Here’s the catch: if you end the game with three or more Gunners visible, you lose. Just like that. It’s the funniest, most brutal rule in the box.
The Parrot: This bird lets you draw again, but it costs you a coin at the end. It’s all about tempo.
The Cook: He pays out based on how many people are in his row. He likes a crowd.
The Monkey: This little guy is chaos. He flips an adjacent tile. Sometimes he saves you from a third Gunner; sometimes he ruins your life.
The Cartographer & Navigator: The Cartographer grabs the Treasure Map, while the Navigator pays out for every Cartographer you have. It’s a nice little engine if you can pull it off.
The Carpenter & Lookout: These are your “positioning” experts. One hates Gunners; the other just wants to be on top.
The Swabby: They’re the “safety” pick. The more columns you have them in, the more they score ().
A little advice so you don’t sink
Let’s be real: you can’t count cards here. It’s a bag. But you can play smart. First off, don’t flip just because you’re bored. If the character in your hand is “fine,” keep it. Flipping isn’t gaining control; it’s gambling. Only flip if the current side actively ruins your board.
Also, watch those Gunners. Two is a windfall. Three is a funeral. If you already have two, you should probably treat every new Gunner you see as an automatic flip. And hey, don’t get too attached to the Treasure Map. It’s nice to have for the extra coin each turn, but it changes hands constantly. Treat it like a bonus, not a birthright.
Where to play
If you can’t find a physical copy, Captain Flip has been a staple on Board Game Arena since 2024. Whether you’re playing on a screen or at a table, the vibe is the same: it’s fast, it’s a bit mean, and you’ll almost always want to play just one more.
