Board Game Tavern
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Modern Art

Five artists, four rounds, and a market you and your friends invent as you go.

Players
3–5
Time
45–45 min
Weight
2/5
Age
10+
· OUR TAKE ·

What it is

Reiner Knizia's 1992 auction game about art dealers who set the market by trading with each other. You put paintings by five fictional artists up for sale, and each card names the kind of auction it triggers. A round stops when a fifth work by one artist appears, and only the top three artists are worth anything. Perfect for anyone who likes to watch friends overpay.

What we love

  • Several auction formats, picked by the card on offer.
  • Artist values carry over between rounds, so last round's darling can keep paying.
  • The fifth painting ends the round and goes unsold, which is a neat way to wreck a plan.

Honest trade-offs

  • Prices mean little at first, so we think a first game can feel like guesswork.
  • It needs at least three players who are willing to bid.
  • There are about 25 versions with very different art, so check which you are buying.

AI summary of player sentiment

Generated · updated weekly

Across the tables we polled, players consistently praise the game's approachability and pacing. The most common complaint is prices mean little at first, so we think a first game can feel like guesswork..

This summary is regenerated from new reviews each week. Astra will wire the generation job to the Vercel Cron detailed in the handoff doc.

Content advisory

No content advisory.

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