Red Dragon Inn Board Game Review
The Red Dragon Inn is a card game by Cliff Bohm, Geoff Bottone and Colleen Skadl, published by SlugFest Games in 2007. Four adventurers come back from a dungeon and try to outdrink, outgamble and outbrawl each other at the local tavern. It plays 2 to 4 people, ages 13 and up, in about 45 minutes. This review covers rules, components and who should buy it.
The Red Dragon Inn Overview
Each player picks a hero with a unique 40-card deck. You knock rivals out with drinks, gambling and fights.
The last player who is still conscious and still has gold wins. It holds a 6.5 rating on BoardGameGeek.
| Designer | Cliff Bohm, Geoff Bottone, Colleen Skadl |
|---|---|
| Publisher | SlugFest Games |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Players | 2 to 4 (up to 8 with other sets) |
| Age Range | 13+ |
| Playing Time | About 45 minutes |
| Game Type | Party, thematic, fantasy card game |
| Complexity Rating | 1.66 / 5 (BoardGameGeek weight) |
What’s in The Red Dragon Inn Box: Components
| Component | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Character decks | 4 x 40 cards | Deirdre the Priestess, Fiona the Volatile, Gerki the Sneak, Zot the Wizard |
| Drink deck | 30 cards | Ales, wines, Troll Swill, Holy Water and four Drink Events |
| Player boards | 4 | Large mats with Fortitude and Alcohol tracks |
| Fortitude markers | 4 | Red glass beads |
| Alcohol Content markers | 4 | Clear glass beads |
| Gold coins | 50 | Cardboard |
| Rulebook | 1 | Six-page folded sheet |
The cartoon art suits the jokey tone. The glass beads slide off their spots if someone bumps the table.
The Red Dragon Inn Review: Pros and Cons
What works:
- You learn the four-phase turn in one round, so new players join fast.
- Each hero plays differently. Gerki cheats at cards, while Zot leans on spells and his rabbit, Pooky.
- Every set can mix with the others, so your character pool grows with each purchase.
- The Chaser drinks cause sudden swings that keep weak players in the game.
What does not:
- Player elimination can leave someone sitting out for 20 minutes.
- Everyone attacks the leader, which can feel random.
- The two-player game lacks the politics that make gambling rounds fun.
- Heavy card text makes it hard to play in a language other than English.
How to Play The Red Dragon Inn: Rules and Gameplay
Red Dragon Inn Setup
Each player takes 10 gold (8 in a two-player game). Put your Fortitude marker on 20 and your Alcohol Content marker on 0.
Shuffle your deck and draw seven cards. Then deal each player one face-down Drink card into their “Drink Me!” pile.
Red Dragon Inn Turn Structure
- Discard and Draw: throw away cards you don’t want, then refill to seven.
- Action: play one Action card, such as an attack or a round of gambling.
- Buy Drinks: put the top Drink card on another player’s “Drink Me!” pile.
- Drink: flip your top drink and apply it to your tracks.
A drink “with a Chaser” makes you flip the next card too and add both together. Drink Events like “Round on the House!” hit the whole table.
How to Win The Red Dragon Inn
You pass out when your Alcohol Content equals or passes your Fortitude. You also leave the game if your gold runs out. The last hero standing wins.
Where to Buy The Red Dragon Inn
| Platform | What You Can Get |
|---|---|
| SlugFest Games webstore | Base game, sequels, Allies sets, promos |
| Amazon | Base game, Smorgasbox, Allies sets |
| Noble Knight Games | New and used copies, expansions |
| Cardhaus Games | Base game, Allies sets |
| Zatu Games | Base game, UK shipping |
| BGG GeekMarket and eBay | Used copies and the 2024 fifteenth edition |
The Red Dragon Inn Game Mechanics and Strategy
Two tracks decide your fate. Fortitude drops when you take hits, and Alcohol climbs as you drink. The gap between them is your real health.
Most cards help with only one track, so you choose between healing, sobering up or attacking.
Gambling pulls everyone in. Each player antes one gold, then players take turns playing Gambling or Cheating cards to take the lead. The pot goes to whoever played last when everyone else passes.
Anytime cards let you react on other turns, such as ignoring a drink or blocking an attack. Holding cards back matters.
Buying drinks is the quiet weapon. A player close to passing out gets every drink at the table.
Who Should Play The Red Dragon Inn?
The game suits groups of three or four who like joking and ganging up on the leader. RPG fans will know the hero types, and our list of cooperative RPG board games has more with that feel.
It sits near Munchkin and Bang! in tone, with light rules and lots of attacks. If you want a similar tavern crawl, see our Heroes of Barcadia review.
It also appears on many lists of drinking board games, though no real alcohol is needed.
Skip it if your group hates elimination or dislikes being targeted. Teams who prefer working together should look at our cooperative party board games instead.
FAQ
Is The Red Dragon Inn good for beginners?
Yes. It has a 1.66 out of 5 weight on BoardGameGeek, and each turn follows the same four steps. Cards explain their own effects.
How long does The Red Dragon Inn take to play?
Four-player games take 45 to 60 minutes, and two-player games about 30. New players run longer while they read card text.
What is the best player count for The Red Dragon Inn?
Four players works best. Gambling rounds need several people to be interesting. Adding other sets lets you play with up to eight people.
Does The Red Dragon Inn have expansions?
Yes. The Red Dragon Inn 2 through 10 each add four new heroes and mix with the base game. Allies sets add two-hero boss fights, and the Smorgasbox adds storage and promo cards.
What games are similar to The Red Dragon Inn?
Munchkin and Bang! share its take-that style and player attacks. Heroes of Barcadia uses a similar fantasy tavern theme. Sheriff of Nottingham suits groups who like the bluffing but want fewer attacks.
