- BGG rank
- BGG #927
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Blue Lagoon
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Rules assistance for Through the Desert: Bazaar
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 2.3/5
Rules assistant for Through the Desert: Bazaar
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Through the Desert: Bazaar is an expansion for Through the Desert released in 2024 for 2–5 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Network and Route Building, Hexagon Grid, and Enclosure.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,838
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Cascadero
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2024
- 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 #625
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Catan
- 3–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1995
- BGG rank
- BGG #286
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Samurai
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1998
- 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 #5,119
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Catan: Traveler – Compact Edition
- 2–4 players
- 75 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #828
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Babylonia
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2019
- 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 #5,035
- BGG rating
- 6.2
504
- 2–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #361
- BGG rating
- 7.6
The Guild of Merchant Explorers
- 1–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2022
About the game
Four modular expansions tweak the classic gameplay of Through The Desert with fun twists without diluting the elegant nature of the gameplay. Add one for a slight change, or bring out all four for experienced players looking for a challenge! Rival Nomads: Based on a deck of Nomad cards, players will embark on a mysterious journey as they reveal specific and intriguing scoring conditions that challenge them to adapt their strategies quickly. Djinns: Visiting oases awakens mischievous djinns, who use their magic to make crossing the desert more difficult. Special Watering Holes: Take a camel piece so you can place an extra piece. In a game where the turns are so tight, this extra pace is crucial! Trading is a way of life in the desert. Buying a commercial good is worthless, but finding someone to trade with while having a pair? That's ten points! Bazaars: Form valuable trade routes from desert bazaars to distant villages.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Allplay
Questions and answers
Through the Desert: Bazaar 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: Bazaar 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: Bazaar 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: Bazaar 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.
Through the Desert: Bazaar belongs to these categories: Animals, Abstract Strategy, and Arabian. Its main mechanics are Network and Route Building, Hexagon Grid, and Enclosure. 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: Bazaar 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: Bazaar as an expansion for Through the Desert. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Through the Desert to use it. Check that your edition of Through the Desert is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.