Few out-of-print board games inspire the kind of longing that Container does. The 2007 economic game has spent years changing hands for silly money, and now Allplay is bringing it back in 2026 with a compact, far more affordable new edition. If you have only ever read about it, this is your chance to find out what the fuss is about.
Got a regular group? Create a private community, poll for the best date, vote on games, and let your friends RSVP in one place.
Set up your group for freeContainer is an economic game for 3 to 5 players with no luck at all. Everything that happens to the market is down to the people at the table. You produce goods, ship them, run them through auctions and sell them at the dock, juggling supply and demand, cash flow and return on investment as you go. There is nowhere to hide behind a dice roll. It was designed by Franz-Benno Delonge, Thomas Ewert and Kevin Nesbitt, and first published by Valley Games.
That player-driven economy is exactly why it has such a devoted following. Shut Up & Sit Down, quoted on Allplay's own page, reckoned it "might well be one of the most exciting games you've ever played", which is quite the claim for a game whose original components were famously plain. Allplay's edition promises sharper art, cleaner graphic design and tidier ships.
Looking for board gamers near you? Browse local communities and find your next game night.
Find events near youThe standard edition starts at $39 (around £30), with a deluxe version at $99 (around £79) that swaps in metal ships and containers, plus a separate playmat and expansion. It is a heavier game best with a full table, so save it for a night when everyone fancies something chewy and let the market do its worst.
Sources: Allplay | Wikipedia | Zatu Games
