Carcassonne expansions
Traders & Builders vs Bridges, Castles & Bazaars
Short answer: buy Traders & Builders first. Traders & Builders is the natural second box. It adds goods and a builder that make turns more interesting.
Pick Bridges, Castles & Bazaars first instead if this sounds more like your table: Bridges, Castles & Bazaars is worth it once you've exhausted Inns and Traders. The tile auctions suit groups that like bidding.
| Question | Traders & Builders | Bridges, Castles & Bazaars |
|---|---|---|
| Our label | Worth it | Depends on your group |
| Buy order | #2 for Carcassonne | #4 for Carcassonne |
| What it adds | 24 tiles, goods tokens, builder (extra tile turns), pig for farms, and a cloth bag for tiles. | 12 tiles, castles that grow small cities, bazaar tile auctions, and 12 wooden bridges. |
| What it fixes | Adds reasons to finish cities and more scoring depth. | Rescues awkward road and small-city spots; adds auctions. |
| Type | Expansion | Expansion |
| Players | 2–6 players | 2–6 players |
| Rules load | Adds more rules | Adds more rules |
| Best for | Fine for any group | Best for experienced groups |
| You need first | Just the base game | Just the base game |
| Price guide | — | — |
| More | Traders & Builders details | Bridges, Castles & Bazaars details |