Rival Restaurants

A one-minute market frenzy where you buy, barter and cook your way to 20 popularity points.

Designers: Gary Alaka, Jon Kang, Rob Chew
Published by: Gap Closer Games
Editions by: Corax Games, Choo Choo Games, Nova Era (Нова Ера)

Rival Restaurants is a real-time trading game in which you run a restaurant that wants to be crowned "The Wiener" by being first to 20 popularity points. You earn points by cooking recipes: first you collect ingredients by buying them and bartering with anyone at the table. Each day moves through three phases: money and move, buy and barter, cook and counter. In the middle phase, you get just one minute to buy and trade, but only from the place you picked, so choosing where to go matters. It is a noisy 2019 game for two to six, best at four or five, with negotiation, ticking clocks and loud shouting.

One-minute real-time buying and barteringChoose a location, then you can't move that dayFirst to 20 popularity points becomes The Wiener

Who it's for

You enjoy negotiation and real-time chaos with a food theme, and have a lively group of four or five.

Not for you if…

You dislike noise, time pressure or haggling. Shy tables do worse here.

Vibe's take

Loud, frantic and sociable. The timer runs while everyone shouts offers across the table, and somehow you end up trading away the one ingredient you needed.