CTG Buyer's Guides

The Too Many Bones 
Buyer's Guide

What Is Too Many Bones?

Written by Devon Norris 

Published on August 12, 2025

In short, Too Many Bones is a critically acclaimed dice-builder RPG. It takes everything you know about dice-rolling and turns it on its head. Play as fantastical Gearlocs on an epic adventure as they take down Baddies and hunt Tyrants who threaten the peace and stability of Daelore.

 

It’s a solo or cooperative game for 1-4 players, and you explore dozens of skills and hundreds of dice as your adventure bounces from encounter to battle and back again. Your decisions along the way will have you weighing risk and reward, but there is plenty of comic relief sprinkled throughout to brighten your Gearloc’s day.

Where Do I Start?

Great question! We've compiled this handy buyer's guide to help you answer that question. Too Many Bones is fully configurable between its base games and content expansions. All you need is the base game, and then you can mix and match across the catalog for a personalized Too Many Bones experience! Gearlocs give players more possibilities and strategies for gameplay, while the other content expansions introduce more Encounters, Baddies, and Tyrants once you've mastered the base game content.

 

Let's start with the base game (the first and only essential purchase in the process). There are three to choose from: the original base game, Too Many Bones; the first standalone expansion, Undertow; and the final chapter in the story, Unbreakable.

In Too Many Bones, assemble your party of Gearlocs and journey to face the ferocious tyrants of Ebonheart. New encounters will test you each day, with many playing out on the Battle Mat–a 4x4 grid where Gearlocs and Baddies will move, attack, and defend in tight quarters until one side emerges victorious. Encounters provide opportunities to gain Loot, earn Training Points, and test your newly acquired Skills before challenging the Tyrant!

In Undertow, your party of Gearlocs sets off to uncover the truth. Nobulous and others will be hot on your trail, so travel swiftly through new Encounters. The famous Battle Mat is back, but it’s bursting with unpredictable raft-based mechanics and gross Baddie types. Unleash the full potential of the Duster and Stanza duo to dodge, slash, and win your way into treacherous southern Daelore.

In Unbreakable, your party of Gearlocs is on a mission to cleanse The Break. Nobulous may be dead, but his machinations are not... The famous Battle Mat is overflowing with lava-based mechanics and fiery Baddie types. Use the dynamic pairing of Gale and Figment to gust, phase, and warp your way through The Break. 

Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG

Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG
Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG
Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG
Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG
Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG
Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG
Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG
Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG
Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG
Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG

Published in 2017

Includes 4 Gearlocs (Picket, Patches, Boomer, and Tantrum).

There are 7 Tyrants to challenge, along with whole host of Baddies.

You can play with 1-4 players, and sessions can take 60-120 minutes.

Too Many Bones: Undertow

Too Many Bones: Undertow
Too Many Bones: Undertow
Too Many Bones: Undertow
Too Many Bones: Undertow
Too Many Bones: Undertow
Too Many Bones: Undertow
Too Many Bones: Undertow
Too Many Bones: Undertow
Too Many Bones: Undertow
Too Many Bones: Undertow

Published in 2018.

Includes 2 Gearlocs (Duster & Stanza).

There are 5 Tyrants, a new Battle Mat, and more Baddies.

You can play 1-2 players in sessions that take 60-180 minutes.

Too Many Bones: Unbreakable

Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable

Published in 2023.

Includes 2 Gearlocs (Gale & Figment).

There are 5 Tyrants, a new Battle Mat, and more Baddies.

You can play 1-2 players in sessions that take 60-180 minutes.

Gearlocs

There are many Gearlocs you can add to your adventuring party! Wondering which one to get? They each have their own personality and unique set of skills to exploit in each adventure.

Ghillie - The Scoutmaster who shoots arrows, sets traps, and commands animal pets! 

Too Many Bones: Ghillie (The Scoutmaster)
Too Many Bones: Ghillie (The Scoutmaster)
Too Many Bones: Ghillie (The Scoutmaster)
Too Many Bones: Ghillie (The Scoutmaster)

Tink - The Bot Builder who sends Spiderbots scurrying after Baddies and Tyrants!  

Too Many Bones: Tink (The Bot Builder)
Too Many Bones: Tink (The Bot Builder)
Too Many Bones: Tink (The Bot Builder)
Too Many Bones: Tink (The Bot Builder)

Nugget - The Treasure Hunter who loots mid-fight and isn't afraid to use her longblade!

Too Many Bones: Nugget (The Treasure Hunter)
Too Many Bones: Nugget (The Treasure Hunter)
Too Many Bones: Nugget (The Treasure Hunter)
Too Many Bones: Nugget (The Treasure Hunter)

Gasket - The Hydromech who careens across the Battle Mat and is mecha trouble!

Too Many Bones: Gasket (The Hydromech)
Too Many Bones: Gasket (The Hydromech)
Too Many Bones: Gasket (The Hydromech)
Too Many Bones: Gasket (The Hydromech)

Dart - The Experiment equipped with a mobile pharmacy while riding a rampaging Boar'd!

Too Many Bones: Dart (The Experiment)
Too Many Bones: Dart (The Experiment)
Too Many Bones: Dart (The Experiment)
Too Many Bones: Dart (The Experiment)

Lab Rats - The Escapists with bite-sized powers and larger-than-the-lab personalities!

Too Many Bones: Lab Rats (The Escapists)
Too Many Bones: Lab Rats (The Escapists)
Too Many Bones: Lab Rats (The Escapists)
Too Many Bones: Lab Rats (The Escapists)

Static - The Brawler who has mastered the Way of the Gearloc and packs a serious punch!

Too Many Bones: Static (The Brawler)
Too Many Bones: Static (The Brawler)
Too Many Bones: Static (The Brawler)
Too Many Bones: Static (The Brawler)

Polaris - The Geologist with Baddie-whacking magnetism and a penchant for rare earth!

Too Many Bones: Polaris (The Geologist)
Too Many Bones: Polaris (The Geologist)
Too Many Bones: Polaris (The Geologist)
Too Many Bones: Polaris (The Geologist)

Carcass - The Survivalist with meat hooks to turn Baddies into hearty late-night snacks! 

Too Many Bones: Carcass (The Survivalist)
Too Many Bones: Carcass (The Survivalist)
Too Many Bones: Carcass (The Survivalist)
Too Many Bones: Carcass (The Survivalist)

Expanded Gameplay

Are you looking for an extended vacation in Daelore? Have you carved your way through the Baddies and Tyrants and still need more Encounters to hone your skills? Well, you are quite the adventurer, but the road ahead is filled with more challenges. The narrative plight of the Gearlocs continues!

 

40 Days, Waves, and Caves in Daelore all provide more Baddies and Encounters for Too Many Bones, Undertow, and Unbreakable, respectively.

 

Age of Tyranny introduces a campaign mode for Too Many Bones to connect sessions for one scar-filled and boon-blessed journey, while Rage of Tyranny supercharges the game's Tyrants and turns them into some truly terrible foes for you to conquer.

 

Splice & Dice debuts the most threatening Tyrants to date, as well as offering the "Build-a-Tyrant" mode. Do you like pain? Splice & Dice will happily accommodate!

 

And then the Automaton of Shale provides a unique Too Many Bones adventure in the form of a delightful pop-up book. And it's got a really special surprise for the endeavoring TMB fans in search of a mystery!

Deluxe Add-ons

If you’re the kind of collector who wants the premium finish on your games, you’re in luck. There are many ways to upgrade your Too Many Bones experience with all that loot from your last adventure!

Premium Health - A beloved upgrade that replaces the standard health chips

Too Many Bones: Premium Health
Too Many Bones: Premium Health
Too Many Bones: Premium Health

BrassMag Miniatures - The ultimate visual for your Gearlocs on the Battle Mat

Too Many Bones: Gearloc BrassMag Miniatures
Too Many Bones: Gearloc BrassMag Miniatures
Too Many Bones: Gearloc BrassMag Miniatures
Too Many Bones: Gearloc BrassMag Miniatures

Ally Pack - Take your pets and bots to the next level

Too Many Bones: Ally Pack

Adventure Map - Explore Northern & Southern Daelore in style

Too Many Bones Adventure Map
Too Many Bones Adventure Map
Too Many Bones Adventure Map

Unbreakable Adventure Map - See what The Break has to offer

Too Many Bones: Unbreakable Adventure Map
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable Adventure Map
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable Adventure Map

Double-Sided Playmat - Full on Too Many Bones for 1-4 players

Too Many Bones Double-Sided Playmat

Modular Mat Pack - Sensible Too Many Bones for 1-2 players

Too Many Bones: 1-2 Player Modular Mat Pack
Too Many Bones: 1-2 Player Modular Mat Pack
Too Many Bones: 1-2 Player Modular Mat Pack

Single Gearloc Playmat - For the organized solo player

Too Many Bones: Single Gearloc Playmat
Too Many Bones: Single Gearloc Playmat
Too Many Bones: Single Gearloc Playmat

Collapsible Dice Tower - The refined way to roll your bones

Too Many Bones Collapsible Dice Tower

Played a few rounds of Too Many Bones, but pine for premium health? Treat yourself!

 

Are you a neat freak (like me!) and need the table organized? Check out the playmats.

 

Looking for the latest in deluxe goods? The BrassMag Miniatures and Collapsible Dice Tower are right up your alley.

Summary

Are you new to the world and enjoy 3-4 player games ➡️ Get the base game! 

The easy solution for 1-2 players ➡️ Undertow and Unbreakable

You don't want to miss out on the story ➡️ Base game and both standalone expansions

Want to find YOUR Gearloc and a deeper challenge ➡️ Pick up some content expansions

A completionist ➡️ We get it… We’re the same way. Don’t stop with just the gameplay content. There’s a slew of deluxe add-ons to check out as well!

Shop Too Many Bones

Summary

Are you new to the world and enjoy 3-4 player games ➡️ Get the base game! 

The easy solution for 1-2 players ➡️ Undertow and Unbreakable

You don't want to miss out on the story ➡️ Base game and both standalone expansions

Want to find YOUR Gearloc and a deeper challenge ➡️ Pick up some content expansions

A completionist ➡️ We get it… We’re the same way. Don’t stop with just the gameplay content. There’s a slew of deluxe add-ons to check out as well!

Shop Too Many Bones

Want to hear what others think about Too Many Bones? 

Check out the Shut Up & 
Sit Down video review!

More Resources

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