Container

About this board game

Container is a 2007 board game for 3–5 players that takes about 90 minutes, combining production, shipping, pricing, and bidding around a remote island economy.

Each player takes on two connected roles: producer and shipper. You decide which products to produce, then choose which goods made by other players to ship to the island. During these phases, players set prices for their goods and compete to maximize their cash.

When goods arrive at the island, the focus shifts again. Players become purchasers for their own tiny islands and bid for the cargo brought in by ship each day. The highest bidder collects the goods, which can later be converted into points at the end of the game.

• Produce goods and set their prices.
• Ship other players’ goods to the remote island.
• Bid against your competitors for arriving cargo.
• Convert collected goods into end-game points.

The rules are simple, but the central challenge in Container is deciding how to turn your home production into the goods your island needs. Every purchase also sends money to a competitor, making each bid a balance between securing valuable cargo and strengthening another player’s position.

Your government is willing to subsidize your purchases, adding another consideration to the island’s daily auctions. How much support will you use, and how much are you willing to pay for the crate your island desperately needs? With its linked economic decisions and player-driven prices, Container puts the value of every good in the hands of the players.