Merchants of Kaidan

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Massively underrated. 87/100

Lots of bugs and a few typos but it's still fun for a few hours. There's the campaign story which you can follow until it gets too boring and repetitive where you just click the same buttons for hours and hours for no fun at all.

4/10

Merchants of Kaidan is a slow-burning strategy RPG that places commerce, patience, and long-term planning at the center of its experience. Developed and published by Forever Entertainment S. A., the game distinguishes itself by making trade—not combat—the primary driver of progression, while still grounding its systems in a personal and emotionally motivated narrative. Instead of casting the player as a warrior or ruler, it asks them to step into the boots of a merchant navigating a harsh medieval fantasy world where profit, reputation, and survival are tightly intertwined. The story provides a strong thematic backbone to what could otherwise be a purely mechanical trading simulation. You play as Ollivean de Calinn, the son of a respected merchant whose life was destroyed by betrayal and political manipulation. Forced to abandon his identity, Ollivean begins anew, driven by the dual goals of rebuilding his family’s fortune and uncovering the truth behind his father’s downfall. This narrative context gives weight to every decision, transforming the pursuit of wealth into something more personal than simple number optimization. At the heart of the game lies its trading system, which is deeper and more demanding than it first appears. Prices fluctuate dynamically based on regional supply and demand, seasonal shifts, random world events, and the passage of time. Goods that are cheap in one city may be worthless in another, and timing plays a crucial role in maximizing profit. Perishable items, luxury goods, and raw resources all require different strategies, encouraging players to observe patterns and adapt rather than rely on fixed routes. Success comes from careful planning, market awareness, and a willingness to take calculated risks. Exploration is tightly woven into this economic framework. The world of Kaidan is expansive, filled with cities, villages, ruins, and trade hubs connected by long and often dangerous routes. Traveling exposes caravans to hazards such as storms, bandits, and unexpected events that can either create opportunities or threaten financial ruin. These moments inject uncertainty into even the most well-laid plans, reinforcing the idea that wealth is never guaranteed and that adaptability is just as important as strategy. Progression unfolds gradually through layered systems that expand the scope of your operations. As your wealth grows, you can hire specialists, guards, and advisors who improve trade efficiency, negotiation outcomes, or caravan safety. Managing these relationships becomes a game in itself, as each hire represents both an investment and an ongoing cost. Partnerships and additional traders allow you to operate multiple routes simultaneously, turning a single merchant’s journey into a growing mercantile network that feels earned rather than handed to the player. While combat exists, it is deliberately secondary and often abstracted, reinforcing the game’s identity as a trader’s story rather than a warrior’s tale. Encounters are less about tactical prowess and more about preparation, resources, and risk mitigation. This design choice may disappoint players expecting frequent action, but it aligns perfectly with the game’s core philosophy: success is built through foresight and endurance, not brute force. Visually, the game opts for a hand-drawn, illustrated style that emphasizes atmosphere over technical spectacle. Character portraits, city backdrops, and world maps convey a sense of age and history, fitting the medieval setting well. The interface, while functional, can feel dense and occasionally unintuitive, particularly for newcomers. Early hours can be slow and unforgiving, and the learning curve may test players who are unfamiliar with economic simulations or who expect immediate gratification. Despite these rough edges, the game rewards patience. Once systems click into place and profitable routes begin to stabilize, the sense of growth is deeply satisfying. Wealth accumulation feels meaningful because it is hard-earned, and setbacks carry genuine consequences. The pacing encourages long-term thinking, making each success feel like the result of careful judgment rather than luck. Overall, Merchants of Kaidan is a thoughtful and ambitious title that blends economic simulation with narrative-driven role-playing. It is not designed for players seeking fast action or streamlined systems, but for those who enjoy depth, planning, and gradual mastery. Its world feels alive through shifting markets and unpredictable events, and its story gives emotional resonance to the pursuit of profit. For players willing to invest time and attention, Merchants of Kaidan offers a richly layered experience that stands out within the strategy RPG genre. Rating: 7/10

I played it in 2015 based on the two achievements I got and gave up the game 1h after playing. I tried to play it again few days ago on my steamdeck and again after an hour I gave up the game. I like this idea and type of game but the progress is so slowly boring and tedious. Painful to play and painful to watch unfortunatly.