7.6
rating
Ludopedia
6.8
rating
BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
Who will love it: draft, bidding, and fantasy fans, plus those who enjoy friendly rivalry.
Highlights
- Strategic and fun drafting
- Engaging card combinations for fun
- Intense shop rivalry for players
- Tense and strategic bidding
- Smart hand management for success
Keep in mind
- Moderate playtime for groups
- Medium complexity requiring focus
- Leasing rules can be confusing
- Attention to detail is essential
Rules manual not indexed yet
Upload the PDF rulebook to ask questions about this game with AI.
About the game
What you do in a play session
Bargain Quest places you in the shoes of a shopkeeper in a bustling adventurer town where monsters lurk along trade routes. At the start, each player receives a limited set of item and hero cards and must secretly choose which ones to display on their shop window. The window is your calling card: the more enticing it is, the more wealthy heroes and adventurers will stop by, bringing gold and prestige. While heroes gear up to face monsters, shopkeepers continue buying, selling, and trading goods, as well as hiring staff to speed up production. The bidding mechanic amps up the competition: in each round, players bid gold for valuable cards, and the highest bidder wins the card and pays the amount. Closed and open drafting keep the game dynamic, as players must decide quickly which cards to keep and which to discard without knowing opponents’ choices. Hand management comes into play when players need to plan the future use of cards still in hand, balancing immediate gains with long‑term strategy. As monsters are defeated, shopkeepers earn more wealth and prestige, but also face the pressure of keeping their stores competitive. The game ends when the third monster is defeated; the shopkeeper with the most gold and prestige wins, but the real reward is the experience of balancing commerce, adventure, and rivalry in a vibrant fantasy setting.
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
In English
-
Bargain Quest | Game Overview
-
Bargain Quest Board Game (2017) – How to Play & Setup
-
How to Play Bargain Quest (Rules School) with the Game Boy Geek
-
Bargain Quest | Supply, Display, Shopping
-
Bargain Quest - How to Play
-
Bargain Quest Quick Overview
-
Bargain Quest | Setup
-
Solo Mode Explained and Playthrough
-
Bargain Quest | Quick Rules Overview
-
Game Night in the North - ep 7 - Bargain Quest
Best player count
BGG community vote
2
REC
3
REC
4
BEST
5
REC
6
REC
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
Loading playlist...
Where to Buy
Prices monitored daily
Finding best prices...
Prices unavailable at this time.
Price history — last 6 months (lowest new offer)
Alert enabled!
Join the BoardGamesBot deals group
Get the best board game deals every day — without message spam.
Join the WhatsApp groupGame details
Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
(Self-Published), Banana Games, Origames, Renegade Game Studios
Designer
Jonathan Ying
Artist
Victoria Ying
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How long does a game last?
Roughly 30 to 60 minutes, depending on player count and familiarity with the rules.
How many players?
2 to 6, best with 4.
What is the complexity level?
Medium; combines drafting, bidding, and hand management for a balanced challenge.
What components are included?
200 item and hero cards, gold and prestige tokens, 4 shop banners, and a rule booklet.
Who is the target audience?
Fans of fantasy card games and friendly competition; also suits those who enjoy bidding.
Is there a solo mode?
Not in the base game, but some expansions add solo play.
How does the bidding work?
Players secretly bid gold each round; the highest bidder wins the card and pays the amount.
Other Games You'll Like
Based on mechanics and theme