- BGG rating
- 7.3
Through the Desert: Bazaar
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #529
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Through the Desert
1998
Rules assistance for Through the Desert
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Through the Desert
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Through the Desert is a board game released in 1998 for 2–5 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Variable Set-up, End Game Bonuses, and Network and Route Building.
Expansions
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #927
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Blue Lagoon
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,838
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Cascadero
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #286
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Samurai
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1998
- BGG rank
- BGG #135
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Tigris & Euphrates
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 1997
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,352
- BGG rating
- 6.7
SNCF: France & Germany
- 3–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,760
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Stephenson's Rocket
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #828
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Babylonia
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,255
- BGG rating
- 6.2
La Strada
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #625
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Catan
- 3–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1995
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,833
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Steam Power
- 1–5 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #792
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Kingdom Builder
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,008
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Winter Kingdom
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2020
About the game
Each player attempts to score the most points by snaking caravan routes through the desert, trying to reach oases and blocking off sections of the desert. Many people feel that it is reminiscent of Go. Publisher's Description From the award-winning game designer Reiner Knizia comes a game of strategy, patience, and cool plastic camels! The desert is still treacherous, mysterious, and without mercy. But for those willing to risk the dangers of the shifting, sun-baked sands, the desert holds riches beyond compare. In Through the Desert, two to five players each control a tribe of nomads vying for control of the desert. By establishing caravans and taking over oases, the players gain points as their tribes increase in power. Strategy is essential in deciding how and where to build your tribe's caravans. There are multiple ways to gain points and several ways to win. Should you try to build the longest caravan? Or should you dominate the desert's oases? Don't forget to keep an eye on your opponents' caravans, or you may find your own tribe cut off from valuable water holes. Through the Desert is part of the so called Knizia tile-laying trilogy.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Edge Entertainment
- Silver Stars Publishing
- Wargames Club Publishing
- Hobby Japan
- Fantasy Flight Games
- Galakta
- KOSMOS
- Lautapelit.fi
- Z-Man Games
- Allplay
Questions and answers
Through the Desert supports 2–5 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 Through the Desert is 45 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 Through the Desert for ages 10 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.
Through the Desert has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Through the Desert belongs to these categories: Animals, Abstract Strategy, and Arabian. Its main mechanics are Variable Set-up, End Game Bonuses, and Network and Route Building. 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 Through the Desert are: Reiner Knizia. 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 Through the Desert 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.