- BGG rank
- BGG #24,942
- BGG rating
- 5.8
TOKYO COIN LAUNDRY
- 1–6 players
- 5–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,387
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Central Market
2012
Rules assistance for Central Market
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Central Market
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Central Market is a board game released in 2012 for 3–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Edgars Zaķis and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Auction / Bidding.
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About the game
Central Market is a strategic bidding game with a twist; instead of raising their bids, players try to lower them – but only to a certain level. Players receive cards that depict various kinds of vegetables, which players may then try to sell. The selling is tricky as you must set a selling price for the items – and while naturally you want the price as high as possible, other players can offer lower prices. The number of products that can be sold each round is limited, so only the players who set the lowest prices will be able to sell something and (maybe) earn a profit. Each player holds several action cards that can be used during the game to influence your chances of selling products or ruin the selling by other players. At the end of each round, any profit earned is transferred into victory points, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Brain Games
Questions and answers
Central Market supports 3–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Central Market is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Central Market for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Central Market has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Central Market belongs to these categories: Card Game and Economic. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Auction / Bidding. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Central Market are: Edgars Zaķis. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Central Market as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.