Clank! Board Game
Clank! A Deck-Building Adventure, designed by Paul Dennen and published by Dire Wolf and Renegade Game Studios in 2016, combines deck-building mechanics with dungeon exploration. The game accommodates 2-4 players, runs 30-60 minutes, and carries an age recommendation of 12+. This review examines whether Clank! deserves its spot among the top 100 games on BoardGameGeek and its multiple award wins including the 2017 Mensa Select.
Clank! Board Game Overview
Players take on the role of thieves sneaking into a dragon’s lair to steal artifacts. The deeper you venture into the dungeon, the more valuable the treasures become. However, making noise attracts the dragon’s attention, and too much clank could end your adventure prematurely.
The game blends competitive deck-building with board movement. Each card you acquire improves your abilities to move, fight monsters, or buy better cards. The tension builds as players race to grab loot and escape before the dragon attacks too many times.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Designer | Paul Dennen |
| Publisher | Dire Wolf, Renegade Game Studios |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Players | 2-4 |
| Age Range | 12+ |
| Playing Time | 30-60 minutes |
| Game Type | Deck-Building, Adventure, Dungeon Crawler |
| Complexity Rating | 2.23 / 5 |
What’s in the Clank! Box
The base game includes quality components that hold up to repeated play. The cloth dragon bag adds tactile appeal when drawing cubes during dragon attacks.
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Double-Sided Game Board | 1 |
| Game Cards | 183 (plus 4 rules summary cards) |
| Cloth Dragon Bag | 1 |
| Thief Meeples | 4 |
| Player Clank Cubes | 120 |
| Dragon Cubes | 24 |
| Dragon Rage Meeple | 1 |
| Various Tokens (Gold, Secrets, Artifacts) | 70+ |
The cards feature artwork by Rayph Beisner, Raul Ramos, and Nate Storm. Text clarity is excellent, making card effects easy to parse during play.
Clank! Pros and Cons
- Easy to learn with moderate strategic depth
- Push-your-luck tension keeps every game exciting
- Double-sided board adds replay value
- Deck-building teaches naturally through play
- Games complete in under 90 minutes
- Optional companion app enhances solo play
- Two-player games lack competitive tension
- Early elimination can occur in longer games
- Setup and teardown take 10-15 minutes
- Many small components require organization
- No digital version despite the publisher’s name
How to Play Clank!
Each player starts with an identical 10-card deck containing basic movement, skill, and clank-generating cards. You draw five cards each turn and play them in any order.
Turn Structure
Cards generate three resource types: Skill buys new cards from the dungeon row, Swords defeat monsters for rewards, and Boots move your thief through the dungeon. Some cards add clank cubes to the shared pool, representing noise that attracts the dragon.
Dragon Attacks
When dragon attack cards appear, all clank cubes go into the dragon bag. The dragon then attacks by drawing cubes equal to its current rage level. Any player cubes drawn deal damage to that player. Black dragon cubes drawn are safe and return to the bag.
Winning Clank!
Players must grab an artifact and escape the dungeon alive. Once any player exits or gets knocked out above ground, a countdown begins. Final scores combine artifact values, collected gold, and card bonuses. The highest score wins, but only if you escaped the dungeon alive.
Clank! Game Mechanics
The deck-building foundation works similarly to Dominion. You buy cards that enter your discard pile, then shuffle everything when your draw pile empties. Unlike pure deck-builders, Clank! adds spatial movement across a dungeon map.
The clank mechanism creates meaningful decisions. Powerful cards often generate noise, forcing you to weigh immediate benefits against dragon attack risk. This push-your-luck element distinguishes Clank! from other deck-building games.
Player interaction comes through racing for limited artifacts and market cards. Defeating certain monsters removes them from other players’ paths. The dragon attack mechanic also creates shared tension as everyone watches cubes get drawn.
Who Should Play Clank!
Clank! suits players who enjoy engine-building with direct competition. The complexity rating of 2.23 places it firmly in the family-plus weight category. Experienced gamers will appreciate the strategic depth, while newcomers can learn through play without extensive rule explanations.
Groups of 3-4 players get the best experience. Two-player games work but lack the competitive scramble for artifacts. Fans of Dominion or Quest for El Dorado will find familiar deck-building mechanics with added thematic adventure.
Skip Clank! if your group dislikes player elimination or prefers purely cooperative experiences. The dragon can knock players out before the game ends, though this rarely happens if players manage their clank carefully.
Where to Buy Clank!
| Retailer | Notes |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Widely available, check for deals |
| Target | Often in stock at retail stores |
| Walmart | Available online and in select stores |
| Game Nerdz | Competitive pricing for hobbyists |
| Noble Knight Games | New and used copies available |
| Local Game Stores | Support local retailers when possible |
The base game retails at $60 MSRP. Multiple expansions exist including Sunken Treasures, The Mummy’s Curse, and Adventuring Party, which adds support for 5-6 players.
FAQ
Is Clank! good for beginners?
Clank! works well for beginners thanks to its intuitive card play and clear iconography. The rules take about 10 minutes to explain. New players typically grasp the core mechanics within their first few turns, making it an excellent gateway game for deck-building.
How long does Clank! take to play?
The box states 30-60 minutes, but expect 60-90 minutes with 3-4 players, especially when learning. Two-player games run faster at around 45 minutes. Setup adds another 10 minutes as you organize tokens and shuffle multiple card decks.
What’s the best player count for Clank!?
Three players offers the optimal balance of competition and game length. Four players increases tension and artifact racing but extends playtime. Two players works mechanically but loses the frantic scramble that makes Clank! exciting.
Is Clank! worth buying?
With a 7.8 BoardGameGeek rating and multiple awards including Mensa Select, Clank! delivers excellent value. The double-sided board and numerous expansions provide long-term replay value. It remains a staple recommendation for game collections.
What games are similar to Clank!?
Quest for El Dorado combines deck-building with racing. Dominion offers pure deck-building without the board. Clank! In! Space! reimplements the mechanics with a sci-fi theme. Clank! Catacombs adds modular dungeon tiles for variety.
