Cash ‘n Guns is how bank robbers learn to share

Cash ‘n Guns is a bluffing game meant to capture the tension of the old movie and TV trope known as the “Mexican standoff.” Beyond the surface-level problematic name, this trope is likely one you’ve seen many times in film. Weapons are drawn, eyes squint, and the life or death bargaining begins. What a fun situation to simulate in a board game!

Cash ‘n Guns wraps its standoff around the idea that a group of successful bank robbers needs to figure out how to divide their loot. Obviously, a group of criminals isn’t going to be the most generous bunch, so weapons are drawn almost immediately. While the game does include foam pistols, we opted to use bananas for reasons, but mostly for potassium deficiency. Once players have their sights set, the bluffing begins: Did you really load your weapon or are you merely aiming a blank? Does one player hold a grudge? Are those diamonds really worth it? At this point, players have a choice of dodging (like folding in poker) or facing down the foam barrel of a gun ... or a banana.

Any players left standing get their hands on the remaining loot, and the game continues for another eight rounds. An excellent party game, Cash ‘n Guns allows up to eight players to pretend like they’re in the bloody finale of Reservoir Dogs. Or Inglorious Basterds. Or Pulp Fiction. Or the Tarantino-written True Romance. Boy, Quentin sure does like this trope, huh?

If you enjoyed this this episode, make sure you subscribe to Polygon’s channel for more great videos. You can watch previous episodes of Overboard here.

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.

Cash ‘n Guns

• $32
• $40
• 21% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Decide how your crew split the money from your latest heist in this action packed bluffing game!

• $32 at Amazon