Masters of Venice

Set in the height of the Renaissance, Venice becomes the bustling stage for this economic strategy game where each player is a young merchant. Your goal is to amass gold and prestige by trading spices, silks, gems, iron and grain arriving at the city's docks. You buy goods as they land, deliver them to artisans and traders who need them, and you can also purchase shares in the shops that use those goods, earning dividends when they thrive. Each round features variable phases: auctions decide who gets which cargo, phase order can shift based on political choices, and actions are selected simultaneously, preventing any one player from dictating the pace. External influences matter – the Guildmaster, Harbormaster, Tax Collector or even a Thief can grant bonuses or throw obstacles your way, so building alliances is as vital as savvy trading. The game blends commodity speculation, stock holding and variable player powers into a roughly 90‑minute experience for 2‑5 players. The learning curve is gentle, yet the strategic depth rewards those who enjoy market analysis and long‑term planning. In the end, the player with the most gold and prestige earns the title of Master of Venice.