Beginning at the dawn of human civilization and progressing through the 19th century, Trade Empires is a scenario-based, economic simulation game about creating a merchant empire through trade. Controlling your family dynasty of merchants, your mission is to build vast transport and trade networks that change over thousands of years as new technologies are developed and more modern products are discovered.

Each episode spans an area during a time period, such as trade along the Silk Road between the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty. With each new episode comes a unique list of available products and technologies ranging from the silk, bronze and jade idols of Ancient China to the steam engines, iron plows and rum of the Industrial Revolution.