Nippon: Zaibatsu is a new edition of Nippon, a fast-paced, area-majority economic game. Players control "zaibatsu": massive conglomerates of interconnected companies driving Japan's economy in the Industrial Revolution era.

During the game, players invest in new industries, build factories and railroads, and produce goods to saturate local markets and fulfill contracts — all to grow their influence and power and to become rulers of the new modernized country. Players are free to choose their playstyle and winning strategy: They choose what they score victory points for, control the game's pace with income turns, and race each other to get the most beneficial factories, markets, and bonuses.

All the core mechanisms of the original Nippon are present, but the components, art, and design are upgraded, and many gameplay features are reworked to get the game in line with modern trends. Nippon: Zaibatsu features new resource types, ships are heavily revised with new Iwakura mission rules, factories are much more variable, consolidation turns provide players with new rewards, and much more. Also, the game now has an automa-driven solo mode.

In the middle of the 19th century, Japan finally realized how far behind the West it was in terms of economy, industry, and technology. The Meiji Restoration ushered in a rapid Industrial Revolution based on zaibatsu, conglomerates of closely related companies.

In Nippon: Zaibatsu, players manage conglomerates of companies called zaibatsu. They build and modernize factories, set up production and supply goods to local markets, fulfill contracts, develop mining and technology, build railroads, and recruit foreign experts – all to catch up with Western countries and prove to the Emperor that their zaibatsu is the most worthy.

Lead the Industrial Revolution and bring Japan to prosperity!

Playing Time: 60 to 120 mins
Players: 1 to 4
Age Range: 14+

It may not be possible to ship very heavy items outside of the Mainland UK.
Released: 17 March 2026