1862: Railway Mania in the Eastern Counties
- Players
- 1-8
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 300 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 4.6 / 5
- Year
- 2013
About the game
1862: Railway Mania in the Eastern Counties is a demanding 18xx economic game set among England's East Anglian rail companies, where up to eight players float companies, issue stock, and lay track across a compact 37-hex board. Petitioning parliament, partial capitalization, and company mergers add layers of financial strategy on top of route-building. A semi-linear stock market with multiple jump rules rewards careful timing of investments. It's a marathon session built for genre veterans.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editors regard this as a serious 18xx title for the genre's most devoted fans, packed with financial nuance around capitalization and stock jumps. It rewards patient, long-term planning far more than quick tactical plays. The five-hour runtime is not for the faint of heart. Newcomers to 18xx games should look at lighter entries first.
What we like
- Deep stock market and railway economics rarely matched elsewhere.
- Supports a large group of up to eight players.
- Includes a full solo variant for practice or solo play.
- Rewards long-term strategic planning over many rounds.
Keep in mind
- Extremely long playtime, often exceeding five hours.
- Very high complexity presents a steep barrier for new players.
- Niche 18xx appeal that may not suit general audiences.
Who it's for
Best for dedicated 18xx and heavy economic gamers comfortable with very long sessions and deep stock-market mechanics.
