Merchant of Venus (Second Edition)
Fly your trading ship across alien worlds and haggle your way to a fortune.
Who it's for
You love a long space-trading adventure with exploration and dice, or you enjoy classic board games from the past.
Not for you if…
You want a short game, low luck or tight efficient planning. It is long, swingy and slow in the middle.
Vibe's take
Leisurely and adventurous: you explore a map that reveals itself as you go, pick up goods that fit a planet's hunger, and feel clever when the dice allow a perfect run. Expect swings of fortune and a long, story-rich evening.
About this game
You captain a small spaceship and try to get rich by trading between alien worlds. Space is a web of connected systems, and you discover new planets as you fly, learn what they want to buy and what they sell, and haul goods back and forth. Prices follow a supply-and-demand system, so a good route can pay off for a while. Earnings buy better engines, lasers and shields, and you can build spaceports and factories that make trading faster. The first player to reach an agreed total value in cash and property wins. This is a long, classic trading game with a lot of luck from dice, best saved for a full evening.
Get it
Mechanics
By the numbers
Players
Duration
120–240 min
Ages 12+
Complexity
3.0 / 5 — MediumBGG Rating
6.5/10
Rank #1,379
4.0k ratings
Published
2012
Language
Moderate text
Designed by
Robert A. Kouba, Richard Hamblen
Published by
Fantasy Flight Games, Arclight Games, Heidelberger Spieleverlag, Asterion Press
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