Kakerlakenpoker (known in English as Cockroach Poker) is a fun and tense bluffing card game that challenges your ability to deceive others and detect lies.
At the heart of the game are “undesirable creatures” — cockroaches, rats, spiders, toads, bats, flies, scorpions, and stink bugs. Each card features one of these creatures, and the goal is to pass cards to other players without ending up with four of the same type yourself.
The game includes 64 cards, with 8 cards for each of the eight creature types. Each player receives an equal number of cards. On their turn, a player chooses a card from their hand, places it face down in front of another player, and declares which creature is on the card — they can tell the truth or bluff.
The receiving player has two options:
Take the card: They say whether they believe the claim or not, then reveal the card.
- If they are correct, the original player keeps the card.
- If they are wrong, they must keep the card themselves.
Pass the card on: They secretly look at the card, announce what they claim it is (they may change the original statement), and pass it to another player who hasn’t seen it yet. This continues until the last player in the chain must resolve it using the first option.
The game ends when a player collects four cards of the same creature type in front of them, or when a player runs out of cards—either way, that player loses and everyone else wins.
If you’re looking for a game that livens up social gatherings and puts your bluffing skills to the test, Kakerlakenpoker is an excellent choice.
