Railways of the World: The Card Game (2010) Board Game

Railways of the World: The Card Game is a card game adaptation of the popular board game Railways of the World. Designed by James Eastham and Steve Ellis, this card game version was released in 2010 by Eagle-Gryphon Games. It is a strategic card game that revolves around building railroads and delivering goods to earn points.

Game Components of Railways of the World: The Card Game

Cards: Half-sized, linen-textured cards representing tracks (valued 1 or 2) and cities (valued 2 to 5) with colored tracks (white, green, brown, orange, or purple) and symbols for color identification.

Engine Cards: Used to increase locomotive size and facilitate goods delivery.

Goods: Moved across links to score points.

Trains: Each player has trains in their color.

Start City Board: Placed in the middle of the table during setup.

How To Setup Railways of the World: The Card Game

To set up the game, place the start city board in the middle of the table. Shuffle the draw deck and place three cards face up near it. Each player takes the trains in their color and four cards from the draw pile, including one engine card and one value “2” city card.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Build the most rails, control the most towns, and collect the most goods.

Actions:
– Play an Engine Card to increase locomotive size and potentially deliver goods.
– Deliver Goods from one city to another by moving across matching colored links, scoring points based on the links crossed.
– Discard a Card to either draw a new card or place a good on an empty city.
– Pass, taking no action.
– Draw Cards from face-up cards, the top of the discard pile, or the face-down draw pile.

Player Experience

The game offers a dynamic experience with hard choices and varied strategies. Players must balance between delivering goods for points, creating goods sets, building new tracks to reach new cities, and gaining control of existing cities. This variety ensures that players are constantly thinking and adjusting their strategies throughout the game.

Pros

Innovative Adaptation: Successfully converts the core ideas of the board game into a card game format.

Strategic Depth: Provides hard choices and varied strategies for victory.

Balanced Mechanics: Ensures multiple paths to victory are well-balanced.

Color Accessibility: Includes symbols for color-blind players and low-light conditions.

Cons

Complexity: May require some time to learn and master the various strategies.

Hand Management: Players must manage their hand size, discarding if they exceed 13 cards.

Personal Thoughts on Railways of the World: The Card Game

This game is ideal for fans of strategic card games and those who enjoy railroad-themed games. It offers a unique blend of resource management, strategic planning, and competitive play, making it suitable for experienced gamers looking for a challenge. However, new players may need some time to get accustomed to the various mechanics and strategies involved. Overall, it’s a well-designed game that captures the essence of its board game counterpart in a fresh and engaging way.

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