Chinatown
- Players
- 3-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 5 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.2 / 5
- Year
- 1999
About the game
Chinatown is a pure negotiation game where players acquire city lots and place business tiles to build profitable, connected enclaves. Completed businesses of three to six matching tiles pay out far better than scattered ones, but the random distribution of resources means trading with opponents is essential to assembling anything valuable. There's no combat and no dice, just hard bargaining over lots, cash, and business tiles. It supports 3 to 5 players and plays in about an hour. This entry, #2 in the Alea big box series, remains a benchmark for negotiation-driven design.
Hobbli's Notes
One of the sharpest pure-negotiation games ever made. Every trade matters, and the tension of haggling over a single valuable lot is unmatched. Not for groups who shy away from face-to-face bargaining.
What we like
- Exceptional player interaction driven entirely by negotiation.
- Simple rules hide genuinely deep trading strategy.
- Tense, satisfying deal-making keeps every turn engaging.
- A classic, highly regarded design that has aged very well.
Keep in mind
- Requires players who are comfortable haggling and negotiating.
- Indecisive traders can slow the game down considerably.
- Random tile distribution can create uneven starting positions.
Who it's for
Fans of negotiation and trading games who enjoy direct social interaction, ages 12 and up, in groups of 3-5.
