Cutthroat Caverns
- Players
- 3-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 5 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 90 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.1 / 5
- Year
- 2007
About the game
Cutthroat Caverns is a semi-cooperative dungeon crawler where 3-6 players face nine random monster encounters together but compete individually for the glory of the killing blow. Each monster carries a prestige value, and landing the finishing hit earns those points, encouraging cutthroat positioning even as the group must cooperate to survive. Some encounters, like trap rooms, offer no prestige at all, testing whether players will sacrifice personal gain for group safety. Whoever accumulates the most prestige after all nine encounters wins - assuming the party survives.
Hobbli's Notes
Cutthroat Caverns nails that rare blend of cooperation and cutthroat competition - everyone needs the group to survive, but only one player gets the glory. We find it consistently generates memorable table talk and betrayal. A great pick for groups who enjoy a little friendly conflict inside a cooperative shell.
What we like
- Clever kill-steal mechanic keeps every encounter tense even in a cooperative framework.
- Humor-infused fantasy theme keeps the mood light despite the competition.
- Simultaneous action selection avoids long turn-by-turn waits.
- Nine varied encounters keep each playthrough feeling different.
Keep in mind
- Semi-cooperative backstabbing may frustrate groups who prefer pure teamwork.
- Player-elimination-adjacent tension can create hard feelings in casual groups.
- 90-minute playtime with 3-6 players can drag if turns aren't kept brisk.
Who it's for
Great for groups of 3-6 who enjoy a blend of cooperative survival and cutthroat competition, with enough humor and card-driven combat to keep things light.
