Which Expansion

BANG! expansions

Base game: 4–7 players20–40 mindV Giochi10 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    BANG!: Dodge City

    Buy this first

    BGG 6.87 from 4,686 ratings, the most-rated BANG! expansion. The publisher page and BGG both list it as the way to reach 8 players, which the base game cannot do.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Two decks of new characters and cards, plus a second Renegade card, so the game runs with three to eight players.

    Fixes: Lets BANG! run with as few as three or as many as eight players.

    Expansion3–8 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:AmazondV Giochi
  2. #2 overall

    BANG!: Armed & Dangerous

    Worth it

    BGG 7.19 from 255 ratings. A BGG poster recommends it over Gold Rush because it adds many interesting cards to the main deck.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Dangerous cards (weapons, gear and ammo) that take load tokens, upgrades for brown-bordered cards, and eight new characters.

    Expansion4–7 playersAdds more rulesFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi
  3. #3 overall

    BANG!: Gold Rush

    Depends on your group

    BGG 6.73 from 1,010 ratings. A BGG poster says its gold economy encourages aggression and can be swingy at eight players; a review calls it pricey for the components.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Eight new characters, gold nuggets to buy equipment from a shop deck, and a Shadow Gunslinger variant for eliminated players.

    Fixes: Eliminated players can keep taking part through the Shadow Gunslinger variant.

    Expansion4–7 playersAdds more rulesFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi
  4. #4 overall

    BANG!: The Great Train Robbery

    Depends on your group

    BGG 7.08 from 73 ratings. A BGG poster owns it alongside Dodge City; one asks if it is worth it and gets no reply, so the evidence is thin.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A moving train of Railroad cards and Station tiles, Railcars you can buy, a Locomotive effect and eight new characters.

    Expansion4–7 playersAdds more rulesBest for experienced groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi
  5. #5 overall

    BANG!: Legends

    Depends on your group

    BGG 7.48 from 44 ratings. Threads show players confused by when to boast or claim feats, and few reviews exist yet, so evidence is thin.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: 16 legendary versions of classic characters, 16 Feat cards and 35 Fame tokens: complete feats or boast to gain fame and stronger abilities.

    Expansion4–7 playersAdds more rulesBest for experienced groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi
  6. #6 overall

    BANG!: Wild West Show

    Depends on your group

    BGG 6.71 from 1,030 ratings. A BGG poster says it has the best characters of any expansion but dislikes its scenario deck.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Eight wild new characters plus scenario cards that change the rules after a Wells Fargo is played, and odd action cards, in a double-faced mini box.

    Mini expansion4–7 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi
  7. #7 overall

    BANG!: The Valley of Shadows

    Worth it

    BGG 7.34 from 503 ratings, the highest of the older expansions. Evidence is the rating and forum rules questions, not written reviews.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Eight new characters plus rattlesnake, tornado and bandido cards based on Czech fan submissions, with design help from Emiliano Sciarra.

    Mini expansion4–7 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi
  8. #8 overall

    BANG!: High Noon

    Depends on your group

    BGG 6.70 from 1,803 ratings. The publisher calls it cheap and easy to play; a BGG poster always uses the High Noon card but skips the event cards they dislike.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: 15 High Noon event cards: the Sheriff reveals one each turn that every player must obey, plus a Ghost Town turn where eliminated players return as ghosts.

    Mini expansion4–7 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for casual groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi
  9. #9 overall

    BANG!: A Fistful of Cards

    Most groups can skip

    BGG 6.49 from 1,559 ratings, the lowest of the main expansions. It matters only if you want more event cards to mix with High Noon.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: 15 new event cards co-designed with winners of a fan card contest; the deck can be shuffled with High Noon for variety.

    Mini expansion4–7 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for casual groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi
  10. #10 overall

    BANG!: Most Wanted

    Most groups can skip

    BGG 7.56 from only 8 ratings. A nine-card promo pack, also inside the Dynamite Box; worth it only for collectors or if you lack those promo cards.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Nine promo cards: Claus the Saint, Uncle Will, Johnny Kisch, Handcuffs, New Identity, Annie Versary, Emiliano and two blanks for a custom character and event.

    Mini expansion4–7 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for casual groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi

Need the base game?

Reference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:dV Giochi

Stuck between two?

BANG! expansions: quick answers

Which BANG! expansion should I buy first?

BANG!: Dodge City. BGG 6.87 from 4,686 ratings, the most-rated BANG! expansion. The publisher page and BGG both list it as the way to reach 8 players, which the base game cannot do.

Is BANG!: Dodge City worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. It adds: Two decks of new characters and cards, plus a second Renegade card, so the game runs with three to eight players.

BANG!: Dodge City or BANG!: Armed & Dangerous: which first?

We’d buy BANG!: Dodge City first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-15.