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Game Groups > Merchant / Trade-oriented games

This game group is dedicated to games where its primary (or secondary) gameplay focuses on trading/bartering goods, resources, or items for a profit. The player usually plays the role of an individual travelling trader, or merchant company, or a nation, with the process of trading conducted manually (not computer automated). Depending on the game, profit may be obtained by the player through manually selecting and buying goods in one location and selling them at another location (shops, towns, planets, etc.).

Merchant / trade-oriented games usually have the following characteristics: * Obtaining profit through trade is usually explicitly expressed throughout the game or through official sources (e.g. game manual, etc.). * Trade must be conducted by the player manually. Thus, gameplay may consist of the player researching goods and price differences for a profitable route. * Computer-assisted scripts may be provided optionally to the player (e.g. caravan routes, etc.). * Trade goods/items usually have no practical use or additional benefits to the player (e.g. cannot be used or equipped).

Limitations Does not apply to games where although trade may exist as an integral part of the game, it happens automatically (through a computer animated script which may be manually created within the game) and does not require the manual selling of goods or items (i.e. political/war-themed games such as Sid Meier's Civilization or 4X games). The term trading simulation is commonly used in this respect. * Does not apply to role-playing games (RPGs) or any other genre where items, including weapons and armor, may be available for buying and selling, but where such transactions aren't done solely for the sake of profit as a main gameplay feature, unless the game optionally and explicitly expresses trade as an integral part of the gameplay. * Does not apply to games where the player may buy or sell parts/accessories for the player's car, rubber ducky, spaceship, or other forms of transportation. * Does not apply to sport-themed managerial games, where the player can buy or sell players, etc. * Not to be confused with managerial games*, which although they're focusing on managing resources, usually have the trade aspect handled automatically.

Related Game Group * Games involving the Hanseatic League

Related Genre * Genre: Simulation - Space trading and combat

Related Theme * Theme: Sea Pirates

Related Groups

161 Games

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Title Platforms Released
box cover thumbnail 1193 Anno Domini: Merchants and Crusader Windows 2001
box cover thumbnail 1701 A.D. Windows 2006
box cover thumbnail 1869 DOS, Amiga 1992
box cover thumbnail A.I.M.: Artificial Intelligence Machine Windows 2004
box cover thumbnail Abyss Atari 8-bit 2014
box cover thumbnail Alite Android 2015
box cover thumbnail Ancient Trader Windows, Xbox 360 2010
box cover thumbnail Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery Nintendo DS 2007
box cover thumbnail Arctic Baron DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh 1993
box cover thumbnail Biznesman DOS 1988
box cover thumbnail Business Man 2000 Windows 2001
box cover thumbnail Businessman Atari 8-bit 1986
box cover thumbnail Canton Amiga 1991
box cover thumbnail Canton: An Atlas Pathfinder Adventure DOS 1994
box cover thumbnail Caravaneer Browser, Windows 2007
Daikōkai Jidai III: Costa del Sol Windows, Macintosh 1996
box cover thumbnail Daikōkai Jidai IV: Porto Estado PlayStation, Windows 1999
box cover thumbnail Daikōkai Jidai IV: Rota Nova iPad, Android, PSP, iPhone, PS Vita, Nintendo DS 2006
box cover thumbnail Daikōkai Jidai V iPhone, Browser, Android, iPad 2014
box cover thumbnail Daikōkai Jidai VI iPhone, Android, iPad 2019
box cover thumbnail Daikōkai Jidai: Gaiden PlayStation, Windows, SEGA Saturn 1997
box cover thumbnail Darkstar One Windows, Xbox 360, OnLive 2006
box cover thumbnail Dawn of Discovery Nintendo DS, Wii 2009
box cover thumbnail Die Fugger II DOS 1996
box cover thumbnail Die Gilde: Gaukler, Gruften & Geschütze Windows 2003
box cover thumbnail Dope Wars Windows 1998
box cover thumbnail Dragon Trader Android 2016
box cover thumbnail Drug Wars: A Game Based on the New York... DOS 1984
box cover thumbnail Druglord DOS 1991
box cover thumbnail Dynatech DOS, Amiga 1992
box cover thumbnail East India Company Windows 2009
box cover thumbnail Elite DOS, Amiga, NES, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Apple II, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Acorn 32-bit, SAM Coupé, Tatung Einstein 1984
box cover thumbnail Elite Plus DOS, PC-98 1991
box cover thumbnail Escape Velocity Macintosh 1996
box cover thumbnail Escape Velocity Nova Windows, Macintosh 2002
box cover thumbnail Europa 1400: The Guild Windows 2002
box cover thumbnail Europe 1400 Browser 2009
box cover thumbnail EVE Online Linux, Windows, Macintosh, Browser 2003
box cover thumbnail Federation Amiga, Atari ST 1989
box cover thumbnail Flatspace Windows, iPhone 2003
box cover thumbnail FreeCol Windows, Macintosh, Linux 2003
box cover thumbnail Freelancer Windows 2003
box cover thumbnail French Fur Trader Mainframe, Sol-20, Commodore PET/CBM 1973
box cover thumbnail Frontier: Elite II DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, Amiga CD32 1993
box cover thumbnail Frontier: First Encounters DOS 1995
box cover thumbnail Fugger Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 1988
box cover thumbnail Galactic Trader Apple II, Atari 8-bit, TRS-80 1979
box cover thumbnail Gloriana DOS 1996
box cover thumbnail Hammurabi ZX Spectrum 1988
box cover thumbnail Handel Zagraniczny ZX Spectrum 1987

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