# Parts Unknown

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 1999
- **BGG Rating**: 6.0
- **BGG Rank**: #13462
- **Players**: 4-10 (Best with: 4, 5, 6)
- **Duration**: 90 min
- **Weight**: 1.90 / 5
- **Designers**: James Ernest
- **Artists**: Michael O'Connor
- **Publishers**: Cheapass Games, Truant Spiele
- **Categories**: Economic, Horror
- **Mechanics**: Commodity Speculation, Roll / Spin and Move

## Verdict
If you love bargaining and surviving creepy surprises, Parts Unknown serves up a lot of fun at a low price.Dynamic tradingDemand mechanicUnpredictable eventsSimple componentsSlow learning curveRECOMMENDED

## Description
In Parts Unknown, each player runs a body‑part shop, supplying the hungry mad scientists of the town. Every round your grave‑digger delivers a new part, which you can store, place on a shelf, or buy to expand inventory. When Viktor, the mad scientist, goes window‑shopping, he creates a demand for a specific type of part. All parts at the lowest price sell first; if demand remains, the next‑cheapest price is used, continuing until the order is fulfilled. If supply exceeds demand, a surplus appears, potentially returning a villager to the population, while a shortage removes a villager. Random events—monsters scaring shoppers or riots driving up grave‑digger costs—shake the market and force quick decisions. Shelves can be purchased and set to fixed prices, but unsold stock may be dumped into the "Parts Unknown" pile, where it sells at a heavy discount. The game proceeds in turns, with each player managing purchases, pricing, and event reactions to amass the most money by game end. The commodity speculation mechanic blends with classic roll‑and‑move to create a chaotic, fun rhythm, ideal for groups who love bargaining, handling surprises, and laughing at the macabre market of human parts. Though the rules are straightforward, the interplay of supply, demand, and random events generates plenty of strategic tension, and the winner is the one who best balances risk and profit.

## FAQ
### How many players can join?
4 to 10 players, perfect for larger groups.

### What is the playing time?
About 90 minutes, varying with player count.

### How complex is the game?
Light to moderate (BGG weight ≈ 1.9/5), simple rules with strategic depth.

### What components are included?
Body‑part tokens, money bills, shelves, board, event cards and movement discs.

### Is it beginner‑friendly?
Yes, though the supply‑demand dynamics may need a few rounds to grasp.

### Are there expansions or newer editions?
The only known edition is the 1998 cardstock version, now out of print.

### What audience is it best for?
Fans of economic games, dark humor and group interaction.