Noble House - The Family Game of Trading and Dealmaking in Hong Kong's World of High Finance

Noble House is a game of economic intrigue set in 1970s Hong Kong. It is based on James Clavell's book of the same name, and the game is true to the book in its depiction of the ruthless pragmatism of the Noble Houses. Each player takes the role of one such powerful Hong Kong trading house. The object is to make money and drive your competitors out of business, which is done primarily by matching assets your company owns to contracts that need completion and preventing your opponents from doing the same. There is also money to be made or lost in stock market speculation and manipulation. The game is designed for two to five players, but it really shines only with four or five. Treachery and side-dealing are an important aspect of the game, and the depth of such personality-driven play is lost with only two or three players. Other high-quality aspects of the game are the beautiful artwork on the money and the design of each player's portfolio where money and stocks are kept during play. The game is suitable for anyone old enough to understand the concepts involved, such as contracts, assets, and stocks. For more detailed information, including pictures of the box contents, check out the game's page at boardgamegeek.