A lot has changed since my last design diary. As mentioned in the previous diary, I put the game I was working, Dream Guardians, in the freezer. And after finding help from Mathijs we came out with a revamped game: River Rats.
How River Rats came to be
I found it incredibly difficult to make my earlier game work, and after what felt like a million iterations, it still wasn’t in the place I wanted it to. It had some original mechanics, but it lacked a strong, cohesive hook. Mathijs noticed this as well and helped me to take a different turn, while keeping the cooperative spirit, player interaction and boss battling.
Mathijs soon came with a great alternative gameplay, taken inspiration from poker, Balatro and The Crew. But the Dream Guardians theme didn’t fit anymore. We needed a theme that could really drive both gameplay and player experience. That’s when River Rats was born. If you want to know what a River Rat is, keep reading..
About the game
In River Rats, you’re not betting your luck—you’re testing your wits. As a crew member aboard a futuristic, luxurious river cruise, you’re forced into high-stakes poker by the rich, eccentric, bionic “River Rats”. But this isn’t a gambling game, it’s a game of tactics, card management and teamwork.
Each of the four crew factions—♣️♦️♥️♠️—has unique actions and abilities, letting you manipulate the game and turn the odds in your favour. Outmanoeuvre the River Rats before they trap you and the other crew members in debt. It’s all about cunning teamwork, careful planning, and outsmarting the upper class.
Designed to be playable with any standard deck of cards, River Rats is easy to try and accessible to everyone.
The Theme & Artwork
The world of River Rats is inspired by the bold, surreal aesthetic of the cartoon Samurai Jack. With minimalist, cartoon-like silhouettes, striking backgrounds with flat and almost surreal looks, and enigmatic characters bring this chaotic river cruise to life.
Both Samurai Jack and River Rats take place in a futuristic, alternate world. In this world, anthropomorphic animals coexist with humans, while robotic enforcers maintain control for the wealthy elite.
The title also has layers of meaning. In Texas Hold’em poker, a “river rat” is a player who lucks out by hitting a winning card on the final deal, called ‘the River’. In the game, the wealthy River Rats represent this idea: bully oppressors who thrive on luck and their position.
Quick gameplay overview
River Rats is a cooperative card game where two wealthy River Rats challenge the boat crew to a poker-style game, aiming to push them into debt. The crew must work together, using their unique abilities and limited communication, to turn the game against them. Players win when both River Rats have accumulated five Debt before the players do.
Here’s how a round plays out:
- Review the River Rats’ Hand – Analyze their poker hand to determine the minimum combination needed to win. Some of their cards are face down, keeping their full strength a mystery.
- Players take turns doing the following:
- Draw a Card – Take a card from the Market or Deck to prepare for the best possible strategy.
- Play a Card – Add a card to the collective hand, aiming to build a stronger poker combination.
- Take Actions – Use your card’s suit action or activate your unique player ability for a strategic advantage.
- Resolve the Hand – Once the collective hand reaches five cards, reveal the hidden River Rat cards, compare hands, and determine the outcome.
- Assign Debt – The losing side gains Debt. If both River Rats reach five Debt before the players do, you win!
Play Now and Join the Crew!
You can try River Rats right now. All you need is a standard deck of playing cards! You can download the full rules here and get started right away:
If you want to be part of the development journey and give feedback, become part of the crew: