
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,363
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Canal Mania
- 2–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2006

2022
Rules assistance for Phraya
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Phraya is a board game released in 2022 for 2–4 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Alberto Millán and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Ownership, and Area Majority / Influence.
Set in the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, the century-old floating market swarms with merchants moving from one stall to another in their own boats. Water markets were centers of economic activity, and now you can relive the experience of one of those ancient merchants. Phraya is a commodity-speculation, pick-up-and-deliver game in which players trade from stall to stall while trying to get the best prices, make offerings in the temples to win Buddha's favor, buy their own stalls to do business, and even approach the king's barge. —description from the publisher
Phraya supports 2–4 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 Phraya is 90–120 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 Phraya 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.
Phraya has a complexity rating of 3.1 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.
Phraya belongs to these categories: Economic, Nautical, and Transportation. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Ownership, and Area Majority / Influence. 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 Phraya are: Alberto Millán. 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 Phraya 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.