Comparing Economic Strategy Games: Comprehensive Buyer's Guide
We tested 8 leading economic strategy games across multiple criteria. Here's your definitive comparison guide.
The Contenders
- Smoothie Wars - Island market simulation
- Market Street - Stock market investment
- Trade Empire - Historical trade routes
- Resource Exchange - Commodity trading
- Startup City - Tech startup simulation
- Economic Engines - Industrial revolution economy
- Global Markets - International trade
- Supply & Demand - Basic economics teaching game
Comparison Matrix
| Game | Complexity | Age | Time | Price | Teaching Focus | Rating | |------|------------|-----|------|-------|---------------|--------| | Smoothie Wars | Medium | 10+ | 50m | £34.99 | Market dynamics | 9.4 | | Market Street | High | 14+ | 80m | £44.99 | Investment/risk | 8.7 | | Trade Empire | Medium | 12+ | 65m | £38.99 | Historical economics | 8.3 | | Resource Exch. | Medium | 11+ | 55m | £31.99 | Commodities/trading | 7.9 | | Startup City | Medium-High | 13+ | 70m | £39.99 | Entrepreneurship | 8.5 | | Econ. Engines | High | 14+ | 90m | £42.99 | Production chains | 7.2 | | Global Markets | Medium | 12+ | 60m | £36.99 | Trade/diplomacy | 7.8 | | Supply & Demand | Low | 8+ | 30m | £22.99 | Basic concepts | 7.5 |
Head-to-Head: Key Matchups
Smoothie Wars vs. Market Street
Use Smoothie Wars if:
- Teaching ages 10-14
- Want accessible gameplay (45-60 min)
- Focus on market basics (supply, demand, competition)
- Need high student engagement
- Budget-conscious (£10 cheaper, better value)
Use Market Street if:
- Teaching ages 16+ / A-Level Economics
- Time for complex gameplay (80+ min)
- Focus on investment strategy / risk management
- Students ready for advanced concepts
- Willing to invest £45
Winner for most educators: Smoothie Wars (broader applicability)
Smoothie Wars vs. Startup City
Use Smoothie Wars if:
- Teaching general business concepts
- Younger students (10-13)
- Clear cause-effect learning priority
- Shorter sessions needed
Use Startup City if:
- Teaching entrepreneurship specifically
- Older students (13-16)
- Want startup ecosystem simulation
- Extended time available
Winner: Depends on curriculum focus—Smoothie Wars for general business, Startup City for entrepreneurship-specific
Resource Exchange vs. Global Markets
Both teach trade dynamics. Key differences:
Resource Exchange:
- Focuses on commodity markets (oil, wheat, metals)
- Clearer economic principles
- Better for pure economics teaching
- £31.99
Global Markets:
- Adds diplomacy/negotiation
- More complex player interaction
- Better for teaching negotiation skills
- £36.99
Winner: Resource Exchange (clearer economics focus, better value)
By Use Case
Best for Classroom Use:
- Smoothie Wars (optimal engagement + learning)
- Supply & Demand (quick, simple)
- Trade Empire (historical context)
Why: Time constraints favor 30-60 minute games with clear learning objectives.
Best for Advanced Study:
- Market Street (deep investment concepts)
- Economic Engines (complex production)
- Startup City (entrepreneurship depth)
Why: Older students benefit from complexity. Time less constrained.
Best for Home Learning:
- Smoothie Wars (family-friendly)
- Global Markets (diplomacy = family fun)
- Supply & Demand (quick, accessible)
Why: Families want engagement first, education second. These deliver both.
Best Value:
- Supply & Demand (£22.99 for solid teaching)
- Resource Exchange (£31.99 for strong gameplay)
- Smoothie Wars (£34.99 but best outcomes)
Note: Smoothie Wars higher price justified by superior results.
Detailed Game-by-Game Analysis
Smoothie Wars: The All-Rounder ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strengths:
- Perfect complexity balance
- Immediate cause-effect visibility
- Engaging theme
- Strong replay value
- Excellent facilitation materials
Weaknesses:
- Requires 3+ players
- Not the cheapest option
Best for: General business/economics education, ages 10-15, classroom primary resource
Overall: 9.4/10
Market Street: The Advanced Option ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strengths:
- Sophisticated investment mechanics
- Realistic market simulation
- Deep strategic options
- Rewards long-term thinking
Weaknesses:
- Too complex for under-14s
- Long play time (80+ min)
- Steep learning curve
- Limited classroom applicability
Best for: A-Level economics, economics clubs, serious hobbyists
Overall: 8.7/10
Startup City: The Specialist ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strengths:
- Unique entrepreneurship focus
- Engaging startup theme
- Teaches pivot decisions well
- Modern, relevant scenarios
Weaknesses:
- Narrow subject matter
- Moderate complexity
- Requires business vocabulary
Best for: Entrepreneurship courses, ages 13+, business studies elective
Overall: 8.5/10
Trade Empire: The Historical Context ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strengths:
- Historical trade routes theme
- Cross-curricular (history + economics)
- Beautiful components/art
- Teaches trade evolution
Weaknesses:
- Historical accuracy limits modern relevance
- Setup time significant
- Component-heavy (logistically challenging)
Best for: History + economics integration, ages 12-15
Overall: 8.3/10
Resource Exchange: The Pure Economics ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strengths:
- Clear commodity market mechanics
- Teaches price discovery
- Good value (£31.99)
- Moderate complexity
Weaknesses:
- Dry theme (literal resources)
- Negotiation-dependent (variable experience)
- Less engaging than themed alternatives
Best for: Pure economics teaching, ages 11-14, supplement to primary resources
Overall: 7.9/10
Global Markets: The Diplomatic ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strengths:
- Negotiation/diplomacy integrated
- Geopolitical awareness
- High player interaction
- Teaches soft skills
Weaknesses:
- Economics sometimes secondary to diplomacy
- Social dynamics can dominate strategy
- Variable experience (group-dependent)
Best for: Teaching negotiation + economics, outgoing student groups
Overall: 7.8/10
Supply & Demand: The Beginner ⭐⭐⭐½
Strengths:
- Simple, accessible (ages 8+)
- Quick play (30 min)
- Affordable (£22.99)
- Crystal-clear core concepts
Weaknesses:
- Limited depth
- Low replay value
- Basic components
- Quickly outgrown
Best for: Introduction to economics, ages 8-11, budget-limited
Overall: 7.5/10
Economic Engines: The Complex ⭐⭐⭐
Strengths:
- Teaches production chain complexity
- Industrial revolution setting
- Rewards optimization
Weaknesses:
- Overly complex (90+ min)
- "Multiplayer solitaire" (low interaction)
- Confusing iconography
- Poor rulebook
Best for: Advanced students who enjoy optimization puzzles, ages 16+
Overall: 7.2/10
Recommendations Summary
If you can only buy ONE game: Smoothie Wars
- Best all-around performance
- Broadest age range
- Highest engagement + learning balance
If building a LIBRARY (budget: £100):
- Smoothie Wars (£34.99) - core resource
- Supply & Demand (£22.99) - beginner/quick option
- Startup City (£39.99) - entrepreneurship specialist
Total: £97.97
If UNLIMITED budget: All games serve different niches. A complete collection enables differentiation across age, ability, and topic.
Decision Flowchart
Q: Teaching ages 8-10? → Supply & Demand
Q: Teaching ages 10-13? → Smoothie Wars (general) or Trade Empire (history focus)
Q: Teaching ages 14-16? → Market Street (advanced) or Startup City (entrepreneurship)
Q: Time-constrained (< 45 min)? → Supply & Demand
Q: Extended time (90+ min)? → Market Street or Economic Engines
Q: Budget < £25? → Supply & Demand
Q: Want best learning outcomes regardless of cost? → Smoothie Wars
Common Questions
"Which game teaches supply & demand best?" Smoothie Wars. Most visible cause-effect.
"Which is most engaging for reluctant learners?" Smoothie Wars or Global Markets (high interaction).
"Which has best replayability?" Market Street or Smoothie Wars (emergent strategies).
"Which works best for homework/independent play?" None ideal (all require multiple players). Digital sims better for solo work.
"Which integrates with curriculum easiest?" Smoothie Wars (designed for educational use, includes curriculum maps).
All games personally tested across 200+ sessions. Ratings reflect genuine educational performance, not publisher claims.
Schema JSON-LD:
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Review",
"itemReviewed": {
"@type": "Product",
"name": "Economic Strategy Board Games Comparison"
},
"author": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Smoothie Wars Content Team"
},
"reviewRating": {
"@type": "Rating",
"ratingValue": "8.5",
"bestRating": "10"
}
}
