Thrift Treasure: Sharp Shooters
Shopping for used games at thrift stores and yard sales is a ton of fun. Almost as much fun as actually playing the games. Many times we’ve passed on a game at a good price because it was missing a piece or two, and that piece is usually the dice. When we spotted Sharp Shooters on the shelf of our local Goodwill and noticed it was supposed to have 32 dice, we knew we might be in trouble. It went into our basket anyhow because for the price ($2.38) we could always use the dice in other games. Fortunately for us the game was complete!
Manufactured by Milton Bradley, Sharp Shooters is a fun western-themed Yahtzee-to-the-next-level game that is a combination of luck and strategy. Each player receives an equal number of dice and take turns rolling them into the provided tray.
Each turn you roll a maximum of five dice and then use those results to place them on the shared game card trying to complete tasks such as “fours”, “straight”, “full house”, etc. As long as you get one die that can be placed on the card you continue to roll until you are either out of dice for that round or you can’t play a valid number. Each completed task is awarded with “poker chips” determined by the complexity of the task. Some tasks are penalties that result in you returning chips to the bank; but if you roll those numbers you MUST play on them. That’s where the strategy lies – you can stop rolling early to force your opponent to roll in hopes they’ll roll a bad number.
Once a card is filled, you start the next round with a different card (12 two-sided cards included) and continue for a total of five rounds. The winner is the player with the most chips at the end of the game.
Unfortunately this game was manufactured in 1994 and is no longer in print. Fortunately there are quite a few available online for well under $20. If you see one at your local thrift shop for a couple bucks, take a chance and pick it up for yourself! You can always use the extra dice!
I’ve never heard of this game, but it looks like a fun game, and an awesome find! I love thrifting.
What a coincidence! I just blogged a while ago on toys and the memories of childhood connected with toys and games…and now I get to read this post on games which look similar to my childhood dice games 🙂
Looks like fun. I’ve never thought to look for used games at a thrift shop. Thanks for the tip! Now I know where to head to prepare for my game night party next month.
Wow, Scott, what a great game by Milton Bradley, Sharp Shooters looks like so much fun to play with kids and adults alike. You mentioned that it’s a Yahtzee-to-the-next-level game. I have played the regular Yahtzee game but not this one. Nice find at the thrift store. Here you can find unexpected treasures in flea markets or garage sales. I have played the Monopoly, Twister Rave, Scrabble and Beyblades games by Hasbro. It brings out the kid in each and every one of us.
This game sounds great. You can find so many great games at thrift stores. It looks like the kids had fun 🙂
Your post gives me visions of locking my family down in the house and forcing them to play unending hours of board games with me to make up for all that I didn’t play as an only child. (big smile) I guess a holiday like today would be a good opportunity to play some games together. Nice find! I love bargains.
It seems like a nice game. I never played that one before.
What a great idea to buy board games at thrift stores. They are so expensive and don’t get used nearly enough to justify the price. I like the idea of using pieces from one game to complete another!
Sounds like a fun game. Your kids (grandkids?) must love you! Cheers!
Ahem, kids (not grandkids). I resent that remark. 😉
This looks like a really fun board game. I would rely on the luck part more so than strategy. Lol.
This looks like a really fun game. It’s almost like being in a real casino since the pieces are so detailed.
You find the awesomest stuff at thrift shops. My boys LOVE games and I bet they would love this one and end up playing for hours.
I love thrift shop board game finds! You just have to thoroughly check them to make sure all the pieces are there. This one looks like a lot of fun too!
Looks like a fun game! Brings the family together 🙂
I’ve been wanting to try different games but the prices are just a bit too much, I didn’t think to look in a thrift store, how cool! I’ll have to try that soon. We have a Goodwill nearby so maybe they’ll have some good games. The price you paid is a huge steal! It looks like a lot of fun too!
This looks like a fun game! Thrift stores must be full of them.
I have to admit I haven’t heard of this game before – it looks really fun though 🙂 x
This game looks so familiar, though I can’t remember playing it; it’s a pretty interesting concept of combining many different games into one.
This looks like a really fun game! You got it at a great price, too.
I have never played this game but I used to LOVE Milton Bradley Games as a child! I love this series..more thrift shop treasures please!
That sounds like a fun game for family game night. I am shocked that all the pieces were there. I love going to thrift stores to find things like this, we recently found a game that new was over $30 but at the thrift store I picked it up for $2.38!
We love board games in our home. Looks like fun!
I have never heard of this game before. Looks like fun!
The luck aspect of this would be both thrilling and maddening. Sounds fun!
What a cool find! It’s a little yahtzee-like but with a fun casino twist.
I like that you can find out of production games on line so easily now-a-days. We recently found one on eBay from my childhood. 🙂 This one sounds fun! It looks a tad bit like Poker Yahtzee.
I’m horrible at these kinds of games, but it looks like your girls had fun!
My middle son is a big fan of any kind of dice game. I will have to show this to him and see if he wants to pick it up
Another great find! Looks like the kids enjoyed this one!
What a cool find! I never had much luck finding complete games at the resale store when my girls were little.
Looks like you had a lot of fun! I’m sure my husband would love this game! Thanks for a great review!
This looks like a lot of fun. I love a good game night!
Now that is one awesome game!
What a great find! I’ve never heard of it, but it looks like a lot of fun
I have actually have that game. We bought it years and years ago, new at the store.
That looks like a game the whole family would have a lot of fun with.
That looks like a blast – I might wait for my little one to join our family game nights, but I am seriously looking forward to it
My kids would absolutely love this game! And it looks really well made which is always a plus!
Found this at our local Goodwill for just 99 cents and played it for the first time tonight with my family. SUCH a great little game! I really loved it!
Amazing price! Worth it just to have the extra dice!