1848: Australia
- Players
- 3-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 240 min
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.8 / 5
- Year
- 2007
About the game
1848: Australia is a semi-historical 18xx railroad game where players alternate between stock rounds and operating rounds. In stock rounds, players buy and sell shares in various railway companies, tracking prices on a stock market board. In operating rounds, company directors build track, place station markers, and buy trains to earn revenue, which is paid out as dividends or reinvested for growth. Unique to this entry are elements like the Bank of England acting as a public company that issues loans and takes over failed railroads, differing track gauges between states, and the special Ghan train. At game's end, the player with the greatest combined cash and share value wins.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editorial team considers 1848: Australia a rewarding entry point into the notoriously deep 18xx genre, with enough unique regional twists (loans, gauge differences, the Ghan) to stand apart from other entries in the series. It demands real commitment -- this is a four-hour-plus economic simulation, not a casual pick-up game. The interplay between stock manipulation and railroad operations creates satisfying long-term strategy for players who enjoy that style. It's absolutely not for newcomers to heavy euro or economic games, but 18xx veterans will find plenty to love.
What we like
- Deep, intertwined stock-market and railroad-building systems reward long-term planning.
- Unique regional mechanisms like loans and track gauges add flavor within the 18xx system.
- High player interaction through competitive share buying and route building.
- Rewarding sense of progression as railway empires grow across the map.
Keep in mind
- Very long playtime of four hours or more per session.
- Steep learning curve that can overwhelm newcomers to 18xx games.
- High downtime between turns, especially with a full player count.
- Niche appeal limited mostly to dedicated economic-game enthusiasts.
Who it's for
Best for experienced heavy-strategy gamers aged 12 and up who enjoy economic simulation and stock-market games, in groups of three to six.
