Planet Trade (2023) Board Game

Planet Trade is a board game released in 2023, designed by Klaus Gjørup and illustrated by Fat Moose Games. It falls under the categories of Economic, Industry/Manufacturing, Science Fiction, and Space Exploration. With a playtime of 135-240 minutes and designed for 3-4 players aged 13 and up, Planet Trade offers a deep strategic experience set in a futuristic space setting.

Game Components of Planet Trade

Game board featuring various planets

Freighters and ships for transportation

Resource cubes of different colors

Demand cards to adjust resource values

Global event cards for round effects

Keep Cards for special abilities

Attack and defense cards

Building and factory components

Trade route markers

Milestone tokens

Player boards and markers

How To Setup Planet Trade

To set up the game, players first prepare the game board by placing the planets, demand cards, and global event cards. Each player selects a player board and starts with a set of initial cards and resources. The freighters are placed on the starting planet, and each player receives a hidden company goal that provides additional objectives and points.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective

The goal is to achieve the most points by the end of the game, which can be earned through various means:

Pursuing your company’s hidden goal

Increasing your stock values

Building structures on planets

Achieving milestones for being the first to build certain amounts of structures

Mechanics

Round Structure: Each round involves flipping demand cards to adjust resource values, drawing a global event card, placing trade routes, and drawing cards.

Main Phase: Players can buy buildings, ships, trade routes, and explore new planets. They can also play cards from their hand and activate Keep Card abilities.

Ship Placement: Players place their freighters on planets to load resources, which can be sold later.

Attack Phase: Players can play attack cards on each other, which can be defended with defense cards.

Income and Population: After unloading ships, players receive income and resources. The population of Earth increases with shipped resources, and when it reaches 20, resource demand increases across the board.

Player Experience

Playing **Planet Trade** involves a dynamic cycle of resource management, strategic building, and competitive interaction. As the game progresses, demand for resources increases, allowing players to earn more money and build more advanced structures. Players must be mindful of their opponents’ moves, as building certain structures can benefit or hinder others. The game also features milestones that reward players for achieving specific goals first.

Pros

Engaging Gameplay: The combination of resource management, building, and competitive elements keeps the game engaging and challenging.

Strategic Depth: Players have multiple paths to victory, including pursuing hidden goals, building on planets, and manipulating resource demand.

Interactive Elements: The game encourages player interaction through trade routes, attack cards, and defensive strategies.

Cons

Complexity: The game has a steep learning curve due to its numerous mechanics and components.

Balance Issues: Some players have noted concerns about balance and the impact of certain cards, such as the limited usage of gold resources.

Length: The game can be lengthy, lasting several hours due to the complexity and depth of the gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Planet Trade

**Planet Trade** is ideal for fans of economic and strategy games who enjoy complex gameplay with deep strategic elements. It is best suited for experienced gamers due to its intricate mechanics and lengthy playtime. The game’s dynamic nature and competitive interactions make it a great choice for playgroups looking for a challenging and engaging experience. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those looking for a quick, simple game.

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