
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,117
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Space Junkyard
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2009

2008
Rules assistance for Island Trader
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Island Trader is a board game released in 2008 for 1–2 players and 30 minutes per game. It was designed by Gilad Yarnitzky and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Modular Board.
The ocean is full of little islands that need supply. Use your ship in order to bring them the supply they want, this will gain you the island support and more resources that will help you help the other islands. The game map is randomly generated every game so new challenge awaits you every time. The layout of the map can also set the difficulty of the game. The game can be played with a single player. When played like this it is a puzzle, where the player tries to reach all the islands. This is a free Print and Play game.
Island Trader supports 1–2 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 Island Trader 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.
Island Trader has a complexity rating of 1.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Island Trader belongs to these categories: Card Game, Print & Play, and Travel. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Modular Board. 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 Island Trader are: Gilad Yarnitzky. 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 Island Trader 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.