Cargo Noir, designed by Serge Laget and released by Days of Wonder in 2011, transports players to the 1950s noir world where each family runs a smuggling operation. Each turn you choose a port—Hong Kong, Bombay, Rotterdam, New York, and more—and bid on the cargo on display. If another player outbids you, you must raise your offer or leave the port and seek opportunities elsewhere. When you’re alone, you can discreetly move cargo from the dock to your personal warehouse, boosting your stockpile. The core mechanic is a simple auction: just raise your bid and the last one standing wins the goods. After collecting items, you can trade them to expand your fleet, buy Victory Spoils, or perform other actions. The more goods you gather, the more valuable they become, and the player with the most Spoils at the end wins. It’s not a walk‑in‑the‑park game; the auction mechanic may seem trivial, but the blend of set collection and worker placement creates strategic tension as you decide when to invest in your fleet or in victory. The game works well for 2 to 5 players, with a playtime of 30 to 90 minutes, and offers a mystery atmosphere that appeals to fans of crime and market games.