Trade Empire is a medieval themed-trade strategy game "developed by a single person".
Create your merchant and start trading in the city you choose, then try to conquer trade in all cities and eliminate your rivals. Increase your prestige and influence by trading with other cities. Develop diplomatic relations to benefit from tax amnesties, port fees, warehouse and guild privileges.
Once you've conquered trade in your city, open guilds in other cities to build your own trade empire and venture into new trade.
Each city will have its own production and demands. By trying to meet these demands, you can increase your prestige in that city and establish a guild to sell goods directly to the people of the city you trade with in the future. In addition, you can make agreements with the city administration and gain nice privileges by meeting their demands.
You can use ships or caravans to trade with other cities. If you are not rich enough to buy a vehicle, you can rent one at first. You can take precautions against threats that may arise on the road, place secret compartments in the vehicles, or provide protection with armed soldiers. You can also keep bandits and pirates away by paying money to well-known captains and caravan leaders, or you can bribe them to transport your goods safely.
Determine your strategy according to the route you choose. You can choose a short but dangerous route to meet demands quickly, or a long but safe route to ensure the goods arrive without any problems.
Getting a privilege for a city is not just about working for the crown. You can cooperate with rival merchants or learn what the latest popular goods are by listening to gossip. You can learn about the goods being carried by bribing caravans and ships and learn about your competitors. For cities that are embargoed, you can offer gifts to the city administration or trade even in a city that is banned from entering by bribing. Establishing a guild in a city is the first step to winning that city.
There are over 150 products in the game, and you can either sell them when they're in stock or order them as soon as they're in demand and start trading. You can also delve into the underworld and engage in illegal activities. Ultimately, you're the merchant, and this decision is entirely up to you.