Cash ‘n Guns party game review

Nerf Guns game — It’s hard to fit all the Nerf guns in only one bin any more.

Early on in our adventure of raising 3 boys, we established a house rule that toy guns were not to be used to shoot at each other.

You can imagine how hard that is to enforce.

We’ve accumulated a variety of Nerf guns over the years that just beg to be used to shoot at each other. Especially when some of those guns come with Velcro tip Nerf bullets and vests for them to stick to.

Actually that was the funnest set.

It came with a set of 4 – for a Red team and a Blue team to have an epic battle. So shooting at the other person’s vest was deemed ok for family battles. And the set also came with glasses to protect against those constant ‘errant’ shots.

We’ve also had a standing family rule of no first-person shooter video or computer games. And that we’ve been able to stick to like glue.

Cash 'n Guns party game — It’s time to split the loot. Who’s going to walk away with the most?

So why then are we OK with, and have such a blast playing Cash ‘n Guns?

After all, it’s a game that uses foam guns for pointing at each other as a main game mechanic?

Probably because it’s a completely tongue-in-check diversion.

Even Brooke has a hoot playing Cash ‘n Guns.

(And she’s never had any interest in playing Cops and Robbers, playing with Nerf guns, or playing video games (other than Just Dance)).

To see (and judge) for yourself, check out Brooke’s video review of the party game, Cash ‘n Guns.

Can the whole family enjoy Cash ‘n Guns?

You’ve probably guessed the answer to this one already, but Cash ‘n Guns is definitely not for everyone.

While everyone in our family enjoys playing it (even mom!), we’ve also introduced it to friends who are very much not in favor of playing the game.

Cash ‘n Guns isn’t a game we would have played when the kids were younger. In fact, I first became aware of the game many years ago and likewise turned up my nose.

Plenty of reviewers talked about how fun the game was. But for me, the name of the game itself was enough to not pay much attention to it.

So what has changed?

For one, our kids are older.
For two, …. well there really isn’t a number two. It really all came down to the age of our kids and their ability to not be offended if mom or dad is targeting them.

So last year when the 2nd edition of the game was published and I started hearing more rumblings about the game, I finally decided to at least look into it further. And it turns out that the game play actually sounded like something we’d enjoy.

Cash ‘n Guns is full of simultaneous selection, second guessing, negotiation, and bluffing – all elements that we enjoy in board games and party games.

Those aren’t elements we look for in children’s games. But as teenagers, those game elements are much more appealing.

So I bought the game as a family Christmas present and it was an immediate hit!

In fact, of all the games we got for Christmas, Cash ‘n Guns was the most-played game.

I really can’t imagine playing this game with young kids.
And I don’t ever plan on doing so.

But with teenagers and for Guys Game Night, absolutely. It’s a riot.

How to play Cash ‘n Guns?

If you’re interested in the typical “how to” of the game, such as the rules, mechanics, and flow of the game, watch Brooke’s video review above.

But really there’s a simple answer to “how you should play Cash ‘n Guns” and that’s, “Over the top”.

Just like the comedic artwork, Cash ‘n Guns is meant to be played with humor.

There’s loot to be split and you want to walk away with the majority of it.

One of the parts we really enjoy is the option to play with different character roles – each role granting a special ability. And while some seem more powerful than others, we don’t mind at all. We’ll deal out 2 to each player and let them choose which to keep.

Some of our favorites are:

The Dictator: If present in the Loot split, you can forbid another player from taking a certain type of loot.
The Cute: If present in the Loot split, before it begins, you take a $5,000 bill if possible.
The Kid: In the Hold-up stage, this player choose a target after everyone else.
The Stealthy: When this player lays down, they immediately take a $10,000 bill from the loot.
The Unbreakable: Player is eliminated after 5 wounds instead of 3.

Another thing we really like about the game is that up to 8 people can play. And we find that the more the merrier.