Board Games Cantraband
Cantraband
Two Gangs. Nine Smuggling Empires. One Prize. Are you ready for it?
We present to you an epic battle of strategy, memory, and teamwork: Cantraband.
Players: 4-8
Duration: 20-30 minutes
Ages: 14+
Cantraband is a high-stakes game of global smuggling, blending sharp memory with ruthless deduction.
Divided into two rival underworld empires, your mission is to outmaneuver your opponents and seize control over a majority of the nine Contraband Empires. Every ask, and every declaration brings your gang one step closer to absolute dominion.
This world doesn't stop for chickens. Take the bet.
Non-returnable
Rs.899.00
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Product Details
TWO GANGS.
NINE EMPIRES.
ONE PRIZE.
THE BLACK MARKET
WAITS FOR NO ONE.
AND ONLY THE MOST
CUNNING gang WALKS
AWAY.
DIVIDED INTO TWO RIVAL GANGS, GET
READY TO DIVE INTO THE HIGH-
STAKES WORLD OF INTERNATIONAL
SMUGGLING. YOUR MISSION IS TO
OUTMANEUVER YOUR OPPONENTS
AND GAIN CONTROL OVER A
MAJORITY OF THE CONTRABAND
EMPIRES.
WILL YOUR TEAM
EMERGE AS THE
ULTIMATE MASTERS OF
THE UNDERWORLD?
54 cards. 9 criminal empires. Each empire
controls 6 illicit trades. Each card is one
specific trade under one specific empire. As
long as this card is in your hand, you have
control over this trade.
All the trades
in the empire
that you need
to gain control
to own the
entire empire
The trade and its
empire
The trade &
its symbol
The trade
you’re
currently
holding
smeared with
blood
The empire
& its symbol
the cards
The trade
The empire
SUBSTANCES: Medicine, Chemicals,
Steroids, Poison, Tobacco, Wine.
WEAPONS: Guns, Bombs, Bows,
Grenades,Tasers, Knives.
MONEY: Pounds, Euros, Rupees,
Dollars, Yen, Francs.
GEMS: Pearl, Ruby, Opal, Sapphire,
Diamond, Emerald.
SCRAP: Iron, Lead, Brass, Steel,
Copper, Aluminium.
SPICES: Saffron, Vanilla, Nutmeg,
Pepper, Cardamom, Wasabi.
ANTIQUES: Heirlooms, Tools,
Coins, Art, Statues, Relics.
RARITIES: Books, Scripts, Treasure,
Crystals, Skin, Pets.
The empires & their trades
FASHION: Bags, Watches, Coats,
Perfumes, Shoes, Jewels.
Get 4-8 people, and play with an even number
of players. The game is most fun with 6 or 8
players.
ASSEMBLE THE CREW
Split into two equal teams. Sit alternating
around the table; no two allies side by side. Eyes
front, loyalties hidden.
DIVIDE INTO RIVAL GANGS
Shuffle thoroughly. Channel your inner casino
dealer. This isn't casual; the whole operation
depends on a fair draw.
SHUFFLE THE DECK
Deal all the cards in your hand. Cards per player
need not be equal.
DEAL THE CARDS
the setup
01
02
03
04
05
The higher the number of players and empires,
the tougher and longer the game. As a beginner,
start with 3 empires for 4 or 6 players and 5
empires for 8 players, and progress once
everyone is comfortable. Always play with an
odd number of empires.
PICK YOUR DIFFICULTY
The game can begin with any player taking
the first turn. If you take the first turn, you
ask any one of your opponents for a card
you want.
WHAT CAN YOU ASK FOR?
Look at the cards in your hand. Each
trade in your hand shows each empire
you partly have control over.
These are the only empires you can
gain control over to help your gang.
So under one of these empires, ask for
a trade that you don’t already own.
TURN STRUCTURE
#2 You can only ask for trades under
empires you already have in hand.
#3 You cannot ask for trades already
in your hand.
HARD RULES:
#1 You can only ask an opponent.
THE TURN
You ask your opponent, “Devansh, do you
control drugs in the substances empire?”
IF DEVANSH HAS THE TRADE,
He must hand it over. No bluffing, no stalling.
It’s your turn again, and you can ask a trade
again from any opponent.
IF DEVANSH DOES NOT HAVE THE TRADE,
Your turn ends. It’s now Devansh’s turn to ask
a trade from one of his opponents, i.e., you or
your gang mates. “Shreeths, do you control
saffron in the spices empire?”
And so the game goes on.
IF THE TRADE IS IN YOUR OWN HAND OR
YOU ASK FOR A TRADE OUTSIDE THE
EMPIRES IN YOUR HAND,
You admit it, and you and your gang
surrender the trades in your hands from that
empire, and place it on the table. Your rival
gang has won this empire. No redos.
declaring an empire
Your gang wins an empire if you know the
exact whereabouts of each trade in the
empire, and you Declare.
SCENARIO 1
You have all the six trades in your hand. You
announce, in your turn, “I’m declaring. I’ve got the
Substances Empire,” and place these cards on
the table. Your gang: +1.
SCENARIO 2
You have atleast one trade of the empire in your
hand, and you know who has the remaining trades
- they can be from your own gang or your rival
gang. You announce, in your turn, “I’m declaring,”
and name who exactly has which exact card.
You’re a 100% right.
Your gang: +1.
SCENARIO 3
Scenario 2, but you’re wrong. You lose the
empire to your rival gang. All cards of the empire
are surrendered and placed on the table. Your
rival gang is one up now. Rival gang: +1.
winning the game
The game concludes when one gang gains
control over majority of the empires.
etiquette & fair play
Lead your gang to victory by capturing
empires one by one. The gang owning the
most number of empires become the utlimate
masters of the underworld.
Be honest when asked a trade.
Don’t peek into other playersʼ hands.
If you accidentally ask for a trade you
already have or a trade from an empire
you don’t have, come clean immediately.
If you notice that a specific trade is with
noone - flag it. It might mean that
someone has asked for a wrong card in
one of the earlier turns and not
admitted/realised.
Resolve any disputes calmly and fairly,
perhaps with a quick team vote.
remember,
During the game, you cannot discuss
moves with anyone, including teammates.
You cannot reveal your cards to anyone,
even your own gang mates.
If you run out of cards, you become a
silent spectator.
If your entire gang runs out of cards, your
rival gang must declare the remaining
empires by guessing who has what.
strategy tips
Keep mental notes of who has what, which
empires are being hunted, and which
opponent is a ticking time bomb waiting to
declare.
Pay attention to what your opponents are
asking for. It reveals what empires they
have and what trades they don’t have.
Make life harder for the rival gang.
When you ask about an empire, your gang
mate learns that you have access to it.
This is your silent communication, use it.
If your opponent has taken a card from
you, when it is your turn, instead of asking
back the same card again and going back
and forth, try to find what card(s) they
have from that empire that allow them to
ask for cards in that empire. Strip them of
this card and then take back your card!
This saves quite some time. This can also
be executed as a rule, where two players
cannot consecutively trade after failed
attempts of smuggling.
Remember, in the
world of Cantraband,
being sneaky is good,
but teamwork is
golden.
Now go out there and
pull off the ultimate
heist!
