Great Western Trail: Argentina
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 150 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.9 / 5
- Year
- 2022
About the game
Great Western Trail: Argentina reimagines Alexander Pfister's acclaimed cattle-driving euro game in the Pampas of Argentina, where players herd cattle toward the train station in Buenos Aires. It keeps the beloved deck-management and rondel mechanisms of the original while introducing new features like farmer workers, grain resources, and shortcuts that let you skip building actions for faster deliveries. Balancing deck efficiency, route choice, and city investments over a substantial 150-minute playtime makes for a rich, demanding strategic puzzle. A built-in solo mode against an AI opponent named Pedro rounds out the package.
Hobbli's Notes
This standalone sequel does an excellent job of honoring what made the original Great Western Trail great while adding enough new wrinkles, farmers, grain, and shortcut paths, to feel like a genuinely fresh puzzle rather than a reskin. The deck-building-meets-euro hybrid remains one of the smartest designs in the genre, rewarding long-term planning. At nearly two and a half hours and high complexity, it's firmly a heavy-game-night title, not something to bring out casually.
What we like
- Rich deck-management and rondel mechanisms combine two strong systems.
- New farmer and grain mechanics offer fresh choices over the original game.
- Solid solo mode with an AI opponent for one-player games.
- High replayability thanks to multiple viable strategic paths.
- Strong production values and thematic cattle-driving artwork.
Keep in mind
- Long 150-minute playtime demands real commitment.
- High complexity may overwhelm newer strategy gamers.
- Best appreciated by players already familiar with the original Great Western Trail.
Who it's for
Best for experienced strategy gamers ages 12 and up who enjoy deep euro games and deck-building hybrids, playing solo or in groups up to four.
