Tsukiji Market

About this board game

Tsukiji Market is a strategic two-player duel played in about 20 minutes, in which two Tokyo chefs compete to claim the freshest fish with the minimum offer.

As new fish arrive from ships at the bustling market, both players must judge when to make a strong bet and when to hold back. The game combines bluffing, speed, and anticipation, turning every offer into a tense contest for first pick.

The price of a fish card is represented by a weight on a scale. When one player significantly outbids the other, the scale shifts toward the player who lost the bet, increasing that player’s chances of taking the fish. If the weight reaches the end of the scale, the player on that side can steal a card from their opponent.

Every decision can change the balance of the market, and the various fish cards add another layer of tactical possibility. Use their special effects to disrupt your opponent’s plans and turn an unfavorable position into an opportunity.

• Players: 2
• Play time: approximately 20 minutes
• Key features: betting, bluffing, a shifting scale, card stealing, and special fish-card effects

At the end of the game, players score their different-colored piles of fish cards, the wasabi symbols on their cards, and the position of the weight in their direction. Careful offers and well-timed effects are essential to building the strongest final score.

Designed by Emanuele Briano with illustrations by Samuel Bouvant, Tsukiji Market is part of Matagot’s wallet-sized microgames line, alongside titles including 6 Suspects, Le Roy des Ribauds, Coucou la Girafe, and Room 25: Double Rush.