Charters: Profit Through Public Works

Charters: Profit Through Public Works is an economic strategy game about auctions, shared incentives, and indirect control. Players do not build projects themselves. Instead, they invest in public works companies that expand infrastructure, generate dividends, and reshape the value of the entire system. Each round, players participate in a rotating auction to determine which company acts and how. When a company is activated, all players may benefit - or suffer - based on their shareholdings and the timing of prior investments. New infrastructure increases future payouts, but also opens opportunities for rivals. Because ownership is fragmented and control is temporary, success comes from reading incentives, anticipating others’ interests, and acting at the right moment rather than optimizing a personal engine. The game emphasizes valuation growth, dividend timing, and scarcity of opportunities over direct conflict. Information is limited, outcomes are intertwined, and every decision leaves a lasting impact on the table state. No player ever has full control, and alliances form and dissolve naturally through shared stakes. Charters plays in 30 to 60 minutes for 1 to 4 players and supports both competitive and solo play. A complete Print and Play edition is available, with a small handcrafted physical edition planned. —description from the designer