
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Container: The Second Shipment
- 3–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2008

2007
Rules assistance for Container
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Container is a board game released in 2007 for 3–5 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Franz-Benno Delonge and Thomas Ewert and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Auction / Bidding, and Commodity Speculation.
Container is a game about big ships and big production. Each player will play both as a producer and shipper of goods. Players will decide which products they want to produce, and which of the OTHER players' goods they want to ship out to a remote island. During these phases, players will be able to set the prices for their goods and try to maximize their cash! Once the goods have reached the island, players will play the part of the purchaser for their tiny island. Players bid for the goods arriving each day by ship, and the highest bidder collects these goods for conversion into points at the end of the game. Sounds simple? It is! But the real challenge is turning your home production into goods for your island. Your government is willing to subsidize your purchases, but just how much money do you want to give to your competitors for that lovely crate of goods your island desperately needs?
Container 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 Container is 60–90 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 Container for ages 12 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.
Container has a complexity rating of 3.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Container belongs to these categories: Economic, Nautical, and Industry / Manufacturing. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Auction / Bidding, and Commodity Speculation. 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 Container are: Franz-Benno Delonge and Thomas Ewert. 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 Container 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.