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About Incan Gold
Incan Gold, first published as Diamant, is a push-your-luck game by Alan R. Moon and Bruno Faidutti. Explorers walk into a temple one card at a time, splitting gems as they go, while hazards such as snakes and rockfalls build up. Every turn, everyone secretly decides at once whether to stay or head back to camp with what they carry. It takes a minute to teach, works for all ages, and the groans when a second spider appears are the whole point.
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Is Incan Gold Right for You?
Best for
Incan Gold is for families and mixed groups of four to eight who want a game that is easy to explain and fun to watch. It works well with a full table, because more players mean more people leaving at once and more arguments over the leftovers. It is a good choice for any group with children of eight and up.
Maybe skip it if…
Players who want strategy will find it too light; it is almost entirely about nerve. At three players the decisions are less tense and the game is less social.
How to Play Incan Gold
Setup
Shuffle the treasure and hazard cards into the temple deck. Each player takes a tent and a pair of stay/leave cards.
On Your Turn
- Flip the next temple card. Gems are split evenly among explorers still inside, and any remainder stays on the card.
- Everyone secretly chooses to stay or leave, then reveals at the same time.
- Players who leave split the leftover gems on the path between them and bank everything in their tent. A lone leaver can also take an artifact.
- If a second hazard of the same kind appears, everyone still inside flees and loses what they were carrying.
How to Win
After five temple rounds, the player with the most treasure in their tent wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Leaving at the same time as others means splitting the leftovers. Sometimes the best move is to leave a turn earlier than everyone else.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Staying in too long. Two of the same hazard ends the run for everyone still inside.
- Leaving at the same time as everyone else. You split the leftovers, which can leave very little each.
- Forgetting about the removed hazard. After one ends a round, that type is less likely to come up again.
- Treating every round the same. Late rounds have higher stakes, especially when artifacts are worth more.
Advanced Strategy
- Count hazards. If two kinds of hazards have each come up once, the odds of a second are much higher.
- Leaving alone is powerful: you take all the leftover gems, and an artifact if one is on the path.
- Watch who has the most to lose. Players with a big load are more likely to leave soon.
- In the last round, take bigger risks if you are behind. A safe finish will not win the game.
Variants & House Rules
Diamant
The original 2005 version with the same core rules. Incan Gold added artifact cards; leave them out to play the original way.
2024 edition with New Dangers
A newer Eagle-Gryphon edition with new artwork that includes the New Dangers expansion, adding Assist and Event cards.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Incan Gold is one of the best push-your-luck games for a group, simple enough for anyone and surprisingly tense. A full table is where it shines, with groans and cheers on every card. We recommend it for family game nights and as a warm-up for any group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Incan Gold the same game as Diamant?
Almost. The rules are the same, but Incan Gold adds artifact cards. Removing them gives you the original game.
How many players is it best with?
Five to eight. More players mean more people leaving at once and harder decisions.
Can young children play?
Yes. The box says 8+, and the only decision is stay or leave.