Jaipur

We got Jaipur for Christmas and have to admit it took us a long time to get it to the table, it’s not a game I had heard about, and normally I just buy games myself, as I know what I enjoy - however, we felt like we needed to give it a go as it was a gift, and boy are we happy we did! Jaipur has quickly become one of my favourite games as it has a great pace to the game, keeping us both super engaged.

The game is set in the bustling marketplace of Jaipur, India, where players assume the roles of merchants competing to become the Maharaja's personal traders by acquiring and trading goods such as spices, textiles, and precious gems. The game is easy to learn, quick to play and offers strategic depth.

The game plays over three rounds, on your turn you can either take one card from the market for free (up to a hand limit of seven), take cards from the market by replacing with camels or cards from your hand, or take all the camels from the market (these do not go in your hand or count to your hand limit).

Players can also sell their cards, either as individual cards or as sets of the same type of goods. The more cards in a set, the higher the point value. The first player to sell a certain number of sets (depending on the number of players) earns bonus points. The game ends when either three sets of goods run out, or the market deck is depleted.

Jaipur comes in a small box but still includes everything you would need including the cards and different tokens, we love how the cards are decorated and the little Easter eggs you may notice on one of the camel cards!

The rules of Jaipur are straightforward and easy to understand, even for those who are new to board games. However, the game offers enough strategic depth to keep more experienced players engaged. The game can be played in about 30 minutes, making it a great option for a quick game night or as a filler between longer games.

Jaipur has a high level of replayability, with the game offering different strategies and outcomes depending on the cards in the market and the choices made by the players. The game also has a good balance of luck and strategy, making it accessible to players of different skill levels.

Jaipur is a fantastic two-player game that is easy to learn, quick to play, and offers strategic depth. The game components are of high quality, and the theme is well-executed. With a high level of replayability, Jaipur is a great addition to any board game collection, and is especially suited for those looking for a quick game night option or a filler between longer games.