Cockroach Poker was one of my recent acquisitions. Reason? I was organizing a board game event in ParkN, and I needed a game that was simple and fun to play. It delivered.
Cockroach Poker – Game Overview
Cockroach Poker has almost zero connection with cockroaches or poker. The name behind the game is Jacques Zeimet, a prolific board game designer from Luxembourg. Jacques has 55 games under his belt and counting. So far, Cockroach Poker is his flagship game.
This is a fun bluffing game that won’t take much of your time or grey matter. Hence, I like it.
Theme and Aesthetics
The game art was made by Rolf Vogt. I like the illustrations, but I am somewhat annoyed that green bugs (stink bugs) and red bugs (cockroaches) look a bit too similar. Either that, or I’m getting old.
The illustrations are nicely done, but they add almost nothing to the game. You could play this game with two decks of regular playing cards.
How to Play Cockroach Poker
You need two to six players. The deck consists of eight types of critters, and each type has eight cards, so 64 cards in total. You start by dealing all cards to all players. Doesn’t matter if some end with more cards; it balances out. The starting player takes one card from their hand, declares what critter is on it, and passes it face down to a player of their choice. That player has two options: declare true/false, or pass the card to the next player.
If they are correct, the person who passed the card has to keep it face up on their side of the table. If they are wrong, they have to keep it face up on their own side.
If the player decides to pass the card, they can look at it and declare another critter if they wish. The rest of the turn goes as described above. The card can’t be passed infinitely, as no player can see the same card twice.
The player who ends up with the card starts the next round. The player who collects four of the same critter loses, and everybody else wins. The player who runs out of cards also loses, and everybody else wins.
Two-Person Cockroach Poker
If you’re playing a 2-player version, shuffle the cards and remove 10 random cards without looking. If you skip this step, you’ll know exactly what cards your opponent has, and vice versa. In this version, there is no card passing (duh), and you need to collect five of the same critter to lose.
How Complex Is It?
It literally takes a couple of minutes of rules explanation and one round to learn Cockroach Poker. I proved that last Wednesday. The game has an 8+ age recommendation, which seems about right. You can play it with friends, strangers, kids, nephews…
On second thought, this one’s best without teenagers, unless you enjoy a steady stream of bad cock jokes. Also applicable to some other games we reviewed, for instance, Shit Happens.
Although the game supports two to six players, playing with two kinda sucks. Bluffing is limited, and the option of targeting specific players is gone. It works exceptionally well with three to five players, and with six players some may feel left out.
Game Length and Replayability
Cockroach Poker is a rather fast-paced game, especially with fewer players. You pass the card, lie a bit, make some innocent banter, and that’s that. The mechanism makes it infinitely replayable, and that’s why it goes on my shelf of staple games.
Portability and Setting
The box is sturdy and ridiculously small. Makes sense, since it holds only 64 cards, a very thin rulebook, and some empty space. Basically, you just need the cards and a rubber band to hold them.
The game won’t take up much table space, and you can even play it on a park bench if the weather is nice. The game requires some dialogue, but usually it’s just “true,” “false,” “pass,” and “you lying son of a…”.
Where to Buy Cockroach Poker
I bought my copy at Outland for 179.10 NOK with a member discount. At the time of writing this review (12.9.2025), the cheapest offer was at Platekompaniet – 127 NOK. That’s why you always compare prices, boys and girls.
Well, at least I picked it up in-store. If I had to order it, delivery costs would balance out the price difference.
Cockroach Poker – Pros and Cons
PROS
- Affordable, especially if you compare prices
- Playable almost anywhere, by anyone
- Simple rules
- Infinitely replayable
CONS
- Can be played with a regular deck of cards
- WHY DO TWO BUGS LOOK SO SIMILAR?
Is It Fun?
Yes, Cockroach Poker is fun. Especially after a long day at work, with a pint of beer or a mug of hot cocoa. Not every board game has to be long and mind-twisting. Sometimes you need games like this.
Final Thoughts and Verdict
As I said, it goes on my staple shelf. It is fun, simple, and great to play regardless of age. Although it has almost zero connection with poker. Or cockroaches.