Jaipur review: "Lightning in a bottle"

There's something moreish about Jaipur.

More specifically, one match is never enough. Even if I just had my arse handed to me, I'm always keen to reset and go again when the final totals are tallied; Jaipur is that kind of game. I'd go so far as to say it's lightning in a bottle, actually. It has enough depth to keep you invested over the course of countless sessions, but is easy-going enough not to take up much brain-space.

I hadn't expected to fall so hard for it. Jaipur was never on my radar despite the years I've spent reviewing the best card games, and it was only recommended as an afterthought when I visited a board game café many moons ago. I was hooked enough to sling it straight onto my wishlist then and there, which rarely happens.

So, should you buy Jaipur today even though it's been kicking around since 2009? Abso-bloody-lutely. If you ask me, it deserves a spot in every collection and is one of the best board games overall.

Jaipur features & design

• 2-player trading game
• Collect and trade goods for points
• Hard-wearing components make it great for travel

Players step into the shoes of rival businesspeople from the Indian city of Jaipur, and your aim is to become the best – thus earning the privilege of becoming your maharaja's personal trader. Put simply: earn the most points to win.

How you do that is your choice. There are a wealth of goods available for purchase at the market, and you'll sell those on for a profit. The trouble is, these items lose their value as more of them are sold… so you'll have to be quick if you want to make a killing. Once three stacks of goods are gone, the round ends and you count up your earnings. Whoever has the most is awarded a 'seal of excellence,' and victory is yours if you collect two of these.

Jaipur has an elegance to match such straightforward mechanics. Its cards are vibrant and the artwork (displaying piles of luxurious items from gold to silk) is as sumptuous as the open-air market of your dreams. The tokens are equally stylish, and they're sturdy enough to survive plenty of use.

Thankfully, these are stored in dedicated slots within the box. Unlike other games I could name, they won't be rattling loose when not in use.

Gameplay

• Easy to learn, but versatile in play
• Constantly evolving strategies
• You can't add extra players, unfortunately

The central premise of Jaipur is selling, but how you do that will define whether you win or lose. Do you buy cheap items like shoes and sell them off quickly? Or should you wait for more expensive items and pawn them at a huge profit, with the risk your opponent will beat you to the punch? It's a balancing act with no right answer, and that pressure keeps you invested from start to finish.

Yes, Jaipur is mechanically simple. But that doesn't mean it's boring. As an example, you can collect a single goods card each turn or draw all of the camels lying face up in the market. Besides giving you bonus points at the end of every round if you gather the most of them, these act as jokers and can be used to claim multiple goods at once. However, grabbing them refreshes the market with new cards… which potential gives your rival exactly what they need on their next go.

This is Jaipur all over; it's a dance with your opponent where you're reacting to the other's strategy moment by moment. Flexibility is your most valuable tool as a result, particularly because there's no guarantee they won't see what you're doing and scupper your efforts.

My one criticism is that you can't increase the player-count. Jaipur is designed with two people in mind, and it just won't work if you crowbar in extra players (this is a shame, because it'd be a blast with more people). Still, this laser-focus means it's a great 2-player option – one of the best 2-player board games, in fact.

Should you buy Jaipur?

I think Jaipur is one of those games everyone should own. It's incredibly compelling despite being so straightforward, can be replayed endlessly, and isn't going to get boring anytime soon.

There are deeper games with similar mechanics, like Splendor, but few can match Jaipur's tantalizing blend of speed, immediacy, and replayability. Plus, its short run-time and portability make it ideal for everything from a lazy night in to vacation play.

Ratings

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Jaipur

I've been playing Jaipur avidly for years now, and have battled against different people in that time across a variety of environments from home to vacation – you could say I've well and truly lived with it.

For more on our process, check this guide on how we test board games. As for the site at large, be sure to visit the GameRadar+ reviews policy.

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