Xenofera: Galactic Market Preview

boardgamequest.com:

Note: This preview uses pre-release components and rules. What you see here may be different from the final, published game. This post was a paid preview, you can find out more information  here .

I used to spend spring breaks with my grandfather when I was in grade school and even in his retirement, he always had multiple jobs to stay busy. My favorite one was when he used to auctioneer at the county livestock auctions. His signature chant was “water’s warm, c’mon in” between bids and he always said it with a big smile which usually made me smile as well. It might be due to those fond memories that I love a good auction bidding game.

This brings us to today’s preview the auction card game Xenofera: Galactic Market that has 2-6 players trying to bid and win the most valuable collection of (alien creatures). It plays in about 30-45 minutes and is for players 14 and up.

The set-up for Xenofera: Galactic Market is quick and easy. Players choose their color-coded starting cards (6 total), guide card, and a card blind. Players then choose 7 of 9 sets of Special Action cards are selected (6 cards in a set) to use during the game and return 2 of the sets back to the box. Those 42 cards are shuffled into the 56-card resource deck and then placed on the correct area on the playmat. The 30 Xenofera cards are shuffled and placed on the correct area of the playmat.

The game is set in rounds starting when the top of the Xenofera deck is flipped over to reveal the current Xenofera players will bid on. Each player will select card(s) from their hand for their silent bid and places it behind their card blind. Players reveal their silent bids simultaneously and resolve who wins the bid depending on the total value of the card(s) and Special Action card effects.

The player who wins the bid collects the Xenofera card to their hand and gains the Last Win marker.

All cards used to bid are discarded unless it was the No Bid card which goes back to the player’s hand and allows them to