Resafa Board Game

The game Resafa takes place during the 3rd century AD in the area of today’s Middle East. Resafa now lies in ruins in modern-day Syria, but at this time it was a fortified desert outpost that flourished as a stop along important caravan routes. In the game, players represent merchants who travel on business trips and buy and sell goods in the various cities in the region.

Develop trade and vital water infrastructure across the deserts of the third century Middle East in Resafa. Players represent merchants travelling between regional cities, buying and selling goods while helping the fortified settlement grow into a prosperous stop along major caravan routes.

Only three actions are taken in each of the game’s six rounds, making every card and journey important. Build workshops to strengthen commercial opportunities, collect resources and camels, then construct water tanks and canals to distribute the rainfall on which the desert communities depend.

Gardens placed between businesses create further resources and victory points, while the shared map rewards careful timing and efficient routes. Several connected scoring systems give merchants room to specialise, but success comes from balancing trade, construction and long term development within a tightly limited number of turns.

• Historical Desert Trade: Travel between cities and profit from regional goods markets
• Water Network Building: Construct tanks and canals to support settlements without local springs
• Workshop Development: Expand businesses to gain resources camels and stronger opportunities
• Garden Construction: Place gardens between workshops to generate benefits and victory points
• Tight Action Economy: Take only three actions in each of six strategic rounds
• Multiple Scoring Paths: Balance commerce infrastructure and urban development for victory

Includes:

• 1 Main Game Board
• 4 Player Boards
• Action Cards
• City and Workshop Tiles
• Water Tank and Canal Components
• Garden Tiles
• Merchant and Camel Pieces
• Goods and Resource Tokens
• Money and Victory Point Components
• Solo Play Components
• 1 Rulebook

Specifications:

• Manufacturer: Rio Grande Games
• Category: Board Game
• Subcategory: Desert Trade Water Network Euro Strategy Board Game
• Players: 1-4
• Age: 14+
• Play Time: 60-150 Minutes