Age of Industry
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 120 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.4 / 5
- Year
- 2010
About the game
Age of Industry is Martin Wallace's streamlined redesign of his classic Brass, moving players through the early Industrial Revolution as they invest in raw materials, manufacturing, and transportation networks. Cards, color-coded by region rather than city, guide and limit your options while keeping the strategic space wide open. Compared to Brass, the canal era is eliminated in favor of a single railway period, and a flexible non-specific industry adapts to whichever double-sided map you're playing: Germany or southern New England. The result is a deep economic strategy game playable in about half the time of its predecessor.
Hobbli's Notes
Age of Industry delivers the tight economic engine-building of Brass in a more approachable package without losing the tension of loans, tech tracks, and route building. It's a heavy game that rewards planning several turns ahead, and the double-sided map adds welcome variety. Best suited to groups who already enjoy economic strategy and don't mind a meatier rules overhead.
What we like
- Deep economic engine-building with meaningful long-term planning.
- Streamlined compared to Brass while retaining its strategic depth.
- Double-sided map adds replayability across two settings.
- Card-driven region system keeps options flexible yet constrained.
Keep in mind
- High complexity and long playtime make it a big ask for casual groups.
- Downtime can be significant, especially at higher player counts.
- Loans and tech tracks add bookkeeping overhead.
- Not ideal for players who prefer lighter, more direct games.
Who it's for
Experienced strategy gamers who enjoy economic and route-building games; best for 2-5 players, ages 13 and up, for a substantial 120-minute session.
