Board Game Compare

Dale of Merchants

Snowdale Design · 2016

$23
Price
7.2
BGG Score
Light
Weight
30m
Avg Time
Game Details
PublisherSnowdale Design
DesignerSami Laakso
Released2016
Players2-4
Game Length20-40 min
ComplexityLight
BGG Rating7.2/ 10
Stats via BoardGameGeek
Crowdfunding
Kickstarter2015
$20,860
Raised
749
Backers

Modest campaign focused on component quality stretch goals. No gameplay content locked away from retail. Promo packs available through specialty retailers.

Theme

Anthropomorphic woodland animals running market stalls. Light-hearted, almost cartoonish. The theme is present but thin — this is really about the cards.

Theme Immersion
0.0 / 10
CozyNatureEconomyAnimals
How It Plays

Deck building — but you're racing to build a perfect 8-card deck faster than opponents. Draw, play, discard. Fast and focused.

Deck BuildingRaceHand Management
Gameplay Details

Each round you either take a card from the market, play cards for their ability, or add cards to your merchant stall. The twist: cards you stall are removed from your deck permanently. First to build an 8-card stall wins. Every animal deck has a unique power — Ocelots manipulate hands, Macaws steal, Platypuses hoard. You pick which decks to include before each game, so the meta shifts every time.

Player Interaction

Moderate — you can directly disrupt opponents' decks or cut off cards they need. Competitive tension is real even if brief.

Interaction Level
0.0 / 10
Replayability

Very high — multiple animal decks that each play differently. Mix and match creates huge variety. Expansions add more decks.

Replayability
0.0 / 10
What's in the Box
Base Game
  • 120 cards across 6 animal decks
  • Cardboard market board
  • Wooden stall markers
  • Compact box — everything fits in your hand, no minis, no excess
Collection Bundle
  • Adds all decks from Dale of Merchants 2 and 3
  • Massively expands variety and replayability
Table Space

Small

Minimal footprint. Just a small card area per player. Fits on a coffee table easily. Great for smaller spaces or travel.

Learning Curve

Teach in 5 minutes. First game runs smooth.

Dale of Merchants Is For You If You…
Want fast punchy games under 30 min
👥Play with casual or non-gamer friends
💰Want bang for buck under $25
🗜️Have limited table or storage space
⚔️Like a bit of competitive tension
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Available Editions
Find all Dale of Merchants editions on Amazon →