Summary
- Release Year: 2014
- Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
- Platforms: iOS
- Developers: Oberon Interactive
- Publishers: Oberon Interactive
Merchant (2014) Review
A unique and innovative indie game that combines real-world simulation with resource management.
In Merchant, the real world is your playing field. You can build a lumberjack cabin at your home address and a stone quarry where you work – then go for an iron mine in your favorite bar.
The game is played on a map of the real world, with each player starting in their own hometown. From there, you can travel to any location in the world, and build businesses, trade goods, and invest in property.
The goal of the game is to become the richest merchant in the world. To do this, you’ll need to carefully manage your resources, make smart investments, and outmaneuver your competitors.
Gameplay
Merchant is a turn-based game. On your turn, you can take one of the following actions:
- Move: You can move your merchant to any location on the map.
- Build: You can build a business in any location where you have the necessary resources.
- Trade: You can trade goods with other merchants or with the local market.
- Invest: You can invest in property or in other businesses.
The game ends when one player reaches a certain amount of wealth, or when all of the players have gone bankrupt.
Resources
There are four main resources in Merchant:
- Money: Money is used to buy goods, build businesses, and invest in property.
- Goods: Goods are produced by businesses and can be traded with other merchants or with the local market.
- Property: Property can be purchased and rented out to other players.
- Influence: Influence is used to gain access to special abilities and to bribe other players.
Businesses
There are many different types of businesses that you can build in Merchant, including:
- Lumberjack cabins: Lumberjack cabins produce wood, which can be used to build other businesses or sold to other players.
- Stone quarries: Stone quarries produce stone, which can be used to build other businesses or sold to other players.
- Iron mines: Iron mines produce iron, which can be used to build other businesses or sold to other players.
- Farms: Farms produce food, which can be sold to other players or used to feed your workers.
- Factories: Factories produce goods, which can be sold to other players or used to build other businesses.
- Stores: Stores sell goods to other players.
- Taverns: Taverns serve food and drinks to other players.
- Hotels: Hotels provide lodging to other players.
Trading
You can trade goods with other merchants or with the local market. The price of goods fluctuates depending on supply and demand. You can make a profit by buying goods when they are cheap and selling them when they are expensive.
Investing
You can invest in property or in other businesses. Property can be purchased and rented out to other players. You can also invest in other businesses to earn a share of their profits.
Winning
The goal of the game is to become the richest merchant in the world. To do this, you’ll need to carefully manage your resources, make smart investments, and outmaneuver your competitors.
Conclusion
Merchant is a unique and innovative indie game that combines real-world simulation with resource management. It’s a challenging and rewarding game that will appeal to fans of strategy games and simulation games alike.
Score: 8/10
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
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