"Avis is an expert chainsaw dueler and ice sculptor, and she likes to beat people up."
So begins the fable of Button Men, a mean little dice game for two players. It's a strategic little pickup game, featuring awesome art and snappy quips. Players take turns rolling dice and capturing each other's dice, in the game that was named the Best Abstract Board Game of 1999. And it doesn't even have a board!
Originally, Button Men was sold as two-packs of 2.25" pin-back buttons. There were several expansions from Cheapass Games, as well as licensed expansions based on Lunch Money, Legend of the Five Rings, Girl Genius, Sailor Moon, Dork Tower, and many more. There were more than 200 characters in all. And you can even buy a version for your iPhone.
Now Cheapass Games is pleased to bring you the full rules, and some printable Button Men trading cards, to help you re-start your Button Men collection. You can also buy the individual buttons from our Cafe Press store, and a few remaining packs from the good people at Paizo.com. Keep watching this page for updates and new sets, whenever we have spare time or a healthy donation from our Button Men fans.
Here are the basics: First, download and print the rules.
- Button Men Rule Book (981K)
Next, print your favorite artwork from the trading cards below. These have a 1/8" bleed to make it extra-easy.
Button Men: Soldiers (original set)
Button Men: Vampyres (First expansion)
Button Men: BROM (Coming soon!)
If you would like to print these trading cards and give them away, they happen to fit 4-up on an oversized postcard from VistaPrint. Not only that, but we've created a mini-rulebook that fits on the back of those cards:
- Button Men Mini-Rulebook (58K)
And if you'd like buttons of your own, check out these resources:
- Individual Buttons for $3.50 each, at our Cafe Press store
- Original sets (not many left!) from Paizo.com
Play for free online at the fan-built Button Men Online site:
Last but not least, consider loading the game onto your iOS device. Thrust Interactive's Button Men contains 18 characters, all-new artwork, 1- and 2-player modes, and the convenience of fitting on your iPhone, all for 99 cents.
