Floating Market (2015) Board Game

Floating Market is a board game released in 2015, designed by JJ Ariosa and Darrell Louder. The game is published by Eagle-Gryphon Games and falls under the category of dice games. With a runtime of 30-45 minutes, Floating Market is designed for 2 to 5 players, with the best experience being with 3 players. The game revolves around the concept of betting and bluffing, dice rolling, and worker placement.

Game Components of Floating Market

Polyhedral dice

Customer tokens (Ama’s grandchildren)

Fruit boats

Buildings for special abilities

Dice pool

How To Setup Floating Market

To set up the game, players first place the fruit boats along the Khlong Damnoen Saduak Canal, each loaded with different types of fruit such as mango, banana, papaya, guava, grapefruit, rambutan, and starfruit. Each player receives customer tokens and assigns them to either the fruit boats to collect fruit or to buildings to gain special abilities. The dice pool is initialized, and each player adds a die to it.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players add dice to the pool to influence which fruit boat will hand out fruit.

Worker Placement: Customers are placed on fruit boats and buildings to collect fruit or gain special abilities.

Betting and Bluffing: Players speculate on the dice rolls to determine which fruit boat will be selected.

Objective: The first player to collect five different types of fruit wins, earning the first bowl of Ama’s famous fruit salad.

Player Experience

Floating Market offers a unique and accessible experience, blending familiar and new mechanics. The game is easy to learn, making it perfect for families or new gamers. Experienced gamers will appreciate the strategic depth and the clever use of polyhedral dice. The game setting, based on the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Thailand, adds a culturally rich and engaging backdrop to the gameplay.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple and intuitive rules.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 13 and above.

Strategic Depth: Combines dice rolling, worker placement, and betting/bluffing mechanics.

Cultural Theme: Set in a real-world floating market, adding an educational element.

Cons

Limited Player Complexity: Some may find the game too straightforward or simple.

Dependency on Dice Rolls: The game’s outcome can be significantly influenced by luck.

User Rating: Received a mixed user rating, with some critics finding it less engaging than expected.

Personal Thoughts on Floating Market

Floating Market is ideal for families, casual gamers, and those new to board games. It offers a fun and quick gameplay experience that teaches strategic thinking and speculation. While experienced gamers might find it a bit light, it is a great introduction to more complex mechanics and is enjoyable for gamers of all levels looking for a light-hearted, culturally rich game.

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