Clank! – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Clank!

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Board Game

85%

WISE Score

7.8

Board Game Geek

Sneak into a dragon's lair, grab treasure, and try not to make noise—a deck-building dungeon race that's tense, funny, and wildly replayable.

Clank!

Board Game

85%

WISE Score

7.8

Board Game Geek

Sneak into a dragon's lair, grab treasure, and try not to make noise—a deck-building dungeon race that's tense, funny, and wildly replayable.

4.8

7.8

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Where to Play

Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

This is what a great family board game looks like. Clank! nails the sweet spot of accessible-but-strategic, with a dragon-noise mechanic that's genuinely clever and creates real tension at the table.

The deck-building is smooth, the dungeon exploration feels adventurous, and the push-your-luck element means every game tells a different story ("I almost made it out but got too greedy!"). Parents report kids find the card text funny and the gameplay engaging—high praise in an era of screens.

It's won a pile of awards for good reason: the design is tight, replayability is high, and it scales well from 2-4 players. The 30-60 minute playtime is perfect for family game night without overstaying its welcome.

If you're looking for a step up from Ticket to Ride but not ready for Terraforming Mars, this is your game.

Age Fit

Despite the 12+ box recommendation, parent reviews consistently report 9-11 year olds playing independently after a few rounds. The reading level and strategic thinking are accessible to upper elementary kids, while teens and adults still find it engaging. Not really for younger kids due to the card text and planning required.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Fantasy dungeon-crawling with a light-hearted tone—you're thieves stealing from a dragon, but the humor is evident in card text ('9yo: The card texts were very funny!'). No dark themes, gore, or inappropriate content. The competitive element is balanced by shared adventure vibes. The dragon mechanic creates tension without being scary or violent—it's more of a risk-management puzzle than anything menacing.

Imaginative

Deck-building meets dungeon exploration with a push-your-luck mechanic that's genuinely clever. Every turn involves meaningful decisions: go deeper for treasure or escape with what you have? The dragon 'Clank!' system—where noise draws attention—is thematic and mechanically interesting. Multiple paths through the dungeon, varied card combinations, and high replayability. Won multiple innovation awards (Golden Geek Most Innovative nominee, Mensa Select Winner). The fantasy setting invites storytelling as you play.

Safe

Board games don't get much safer than this. Fantasy theme with no mature content in artwork or mechanics. Social dynamics are competitive but not cutthroat—everyone's racing the dragon together in a sense. No gambling mechanics, just calculated risk-taking. The 'stealing' theme is clearly fantasy adventure (think Indiana Jones, not teaching kids to shoplift). Parent reviews confirm kids 9-11 play independently without issues. No monetization concerns, no online components, no expansions required to enjoy.

Enriching

Solid strategic thinking and planning required. Deck-building teaches resource management and probability assessment. The push-your-luck element develops risk evaluation skills. Medium-light complexity (2.23 BGG weight) means it's accessible but has real depth—not just rolling dice. Encourages reading (card text) and math (counting points, movement). Family bonding around the table is strong. However, it's not deeply educational beyond strategic thinking—it's primarily entertainment with cognitive benefits as a bonus.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Brilliant push-your-luck tension: every turn you're weighing 'one more room?' against getting eaten by a dragon
Deck-building that actually feels thematic—you're literally getting better at thievery as you add cards
Funny card text that kids genuinely enjoy (per parent reviews)
Plays well from 2-4 players and sessions are a reasonable 30-60 minutes
Award-winning design (Mensa Select, multiple Golden Geek nominations) with 61K+ BGG community owners

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What to Watch For

Box says 12+ but parent consensus is 9+ works fine—younger kids may need help with card reading and strategy initially
Competitive game where someone wins and others lose (though the dragon threat creates shared tension)
Medium-light complexity means there's a learning curve, but families report figuring it out quickly

Conversation Starters

"Would you rather play it safe and escape early, or risk it for better treasure? What made you decide?"
"What was your strategy for building your deck? Which cards worked best together?"
"If you were actually sneaking around a dragon's lair, what would be the hardest part?"

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