Throughout the review, I kept thinking "A more palatable Age of Steam". Mobile Markets sounds like my kind of Euro jam: open information, economic, thematic i.e. the actions are logically consistent with the theme, and mean. I do enjoy cut-throat, interactive games. I also prefer games with a lower player count, so I'll add this to my BGG 'Watch' list.

Mike ranked it number 7 solo game of 2021. It has AI opponent Steve Jr. you play against, which simulates 2 player game quite well.

It's also "The 4 square[s]" :)

I don't believe it's "redone", it's a new game.

@@thedicetower Same theme with some similar mechanisms (the action selection plates being identical) and similar art. It doesn't sound too different from Smartphone even though I assume it has to feel different or else it would not sell. I can't help but think he wanted another crack at doing the Smartphone system a new way or else he would have designed something that was not so similar.

@@jacobjslee Hi! Thanks for a great question, for me it was never redo of Smartphone inc. - more like what i can do in a game to introduce more people to the series. The theme was actually different from the beginning (it was about mp3players), and besides action selection and flow of the game (which is an economic simulation and you don't actually have much freedom here), mobile markets are very different - I wanted this game to be more about accumulating different advantages through the game, to have a feeling of unique product you create. And we actually going to support both games in the future (or just a smartphone inc - depending on how mobile markets are going to do). And the main reason why i do this game - for me there is still a shortage of short economic simulators in a board game market. Plenty of 4+ hour ones, but it's hard to find so much time and company for niche games.

Thanks, Ivan. I was sincerely curious and I like your response. I hope MM does well.

Hi! Arcane wonders will have some limited copies left from Essen soon and a major shipment of the new print will arrive approximately in q3.

Most companies like Samsung and Motorola make different types of phones at various price points, so it makes sense.

Farming is great.