KAPOW! cover
2019BGG rank #9,155

KAPOW!

by Larry Bogucki, Douglas Hettrick, Carl Van Ostrand · 2 Ton Porcupine

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Players2–4
Time20–60m
ComplexityMedium-Light
Age8+

About the game

What is KAPOW!?

Superhero — or supervillain? You decide in this buildable dice game. Your customizable dice pool is used to execute a variety of superpowers. Gain special abilities and new play experiences by taking on the role of six different heroes or villains. In KAPOW!, players go head-to-head in a classic explosive clash of good vs. evil. You choose to be a villain or hero, which determines your starting trait dice and unique abilities. You can gain additional blank "action dice" that have removable faces that that you customize to your liking to best enhance your character. Behind a player screen, you roll dice, then allocate them to attack, defense, and power-up abilities. The combination of choosing how to grow your dice pool, how to customize your action die faces, and how to use each roll leads to a satisfying, strategic showdown. With two copies of the game and the duo board/Sawmill Jackson expansion, you can play with three or four players in games with a a 2v2 (2 heroes vs. 2 villains) or 2v1 (2 heroes vs. 1 mega-villain) format!

How it plays

Mechanics

Dice RollingHand ManagementSimultaneous Action SelectionVariable Player Powers

On the shelf

Categories

DiceFighting

Questions players ask

Questions to bring to BoardGameBrain

  • How do setup and the first turn work in KAPOW!?
  • When does scoring happen and what ends the game?
  • How should the table resolve an unusual timing or rules interaction?