Railways of the World

Railways of the World

TrainsTransportationLicensed / Adapted
Players
2-6
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
5 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
120 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
10+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
3.0 / 5
Year
2005

About the game

Railways of the World has players laying track across a map of North America, building rail networks, delivering goods, and expanding an empire of locomotives and shares. Taking loans to fuel early expansion carries real financial risk, and players must balance aggressive track-building against long-term profitability. As the new edition of the classic Railroad Tycoon design, it's an accessible entry point into the deep train-game genre.

Hobbli's Notes

Railways of the World strikes a great balance for players curious about heavier train games - it keeps the economic tension of loans and share ownership while trimming away some of the fiddlier bookkeeping of true 18xx titles. The huge board and modular expansion maps give it serious longevity for a dedicated group.

What we like

  • Deep economic tension between expansion and debt.
  • Expandable with multiple map expansions.
  • Satisfying network-building puzzle.
  • Approachable entry point into 18xx-style train games.

Keep in mind

  • Long two-hour playtime with a large, sprawling board.
  • Can suffer runaway-leader problems if loans go unchecked.
  • Steeper learning curve than typical family train games.

Who it's for

Best for ages 12+, fans of economic and route-building train games, in groups of 2-6 with a couple hours to spare.

Mechanics

Action PointsConnectionsEnd Game BonusesGrid / MapIncomeLoansNetwork and Route BuildingDraftingOwnershipPick-up and DeliverTile PlacementTurn Order

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