Traders of Osaka
Card-driven trading game where merchants race goods from Osaka to Edo, and pirates lurk.
Who it's for
You like short, clever card games where the interaction is a bit sneaky. Works best with two players.
Not for you if…
You want a deep, long strategy game or dislike being raided by other players.
Vibe's take
Brisk and calculating. Every card is a tradeoff, and the ships' movement creates a tense dance between helping yourself and hurting others. The pirates keep everyone slightly paranoid.
About this game
Traders of Osaka is a small card game about shipping goods from Osaka to Edo, a Japan reskin of Traders of Carthage. You and your rivals are merchants trying to get four kinds of cargo to port. A small board shows the sea route with safe harbors and dangerous waters. Your cards do several jobs, so every card you play means giving up something else. You can push ships forward, hold them back, or trigger a pirate raid that robs your opponents of their goods. Sell your cargo for achievement tokens and the most successful trader wins. A short, sharp, slightly nasty trading game that fits in half an hour.
Get it
By the numbers
Players
Duration
30 min
Ages 10+
Complexity
2.0 / 5 — LightBGG Rating
6.3/10
Rank #1,974
3.6k ratings
Published
2006
Designed by
Susumu Kawasaki
Published by
Z-Man Games, Filosofia Éditions, Cube Factory of Ideas, Japon Brand, Kawasaki Factory
/pic743228.jpg)
/pic6417261.jpg)
/pic3563973.png)
/pic722313.jpg)