In Brazil in the latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century, large landowners, called "coronéis", starved the northeastern part of the country in a vast area that included the Sertão Desert. In this climate of corruption and abuse, the Cangaceiros were born - bandits who violently challenged the ruling system.

Cangaceiros is a strategic competitive game in which each player plays as a gang trying to survive in hostile desert areas while being hunted by the Volantes, the state police trained to kill them. Each gang has a leader chosen from the twenty available, each with their own unique skills and characteristics.

Management of any seven-card deck is essential, with players using cards to gather resources, place bandits to guard a region, attack the Volantes, attack the prison of the city of Recife, convert accumulated resources into fame, train their leader and recruit new members for the gang.

You win by collecting fame points, which are obtained by attacking the Volantes, but also by training your boss to solve his life purpose and help him retire in glory. You also gain fame points in several other ways, and whoever collects the most fame wins.