Australian Rails (1994) Board Game

Australian Rails is a board game released in 1994 that falls under the economic, trains, and transportation category. Designed by Peter Y. Bromley, Drew Perkett, and Mike Russo, this game utilizes the Crayon Rail System, Hexagon Grid, Network and Route Building, and Pick-up and Deliver mechanisms to create an engaging gameplay experience.

Game Components of Australian Rails

Map: A 28″ x 22″ foldout map of Australia, marked with a grid of dots and coated with a plastic cover for easy crayon mark removal.

Rulebook: A 4-page rulebook.

Cards: A 112-card deck including Demand, Action, and Event cards.

Tokens: Die-cut cardboard counters representing goods and types of freighters.

Locomotives: Plastic locomotive tokens.

Crayons: Six crayons for marking tracks.

Currency: Play currency.

How To Setup Australian Rails

To set up the game, players start by receiving $40 million and being dealt three cards from the deck. Players discard Event and Action cards, redrawing until they have three Demand cards. The player who draws the highest-priced Demand card goes first. The setup involves initial track building, with each player having the opportunity to spend up to $20 million to build their initial tracks.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Track Building: Players build railroad tracks by connecting dots on the map, with varying costs based on terrain (e.g., $1 million for ordinary dots, $2 million for mountain markers).

Goods Delivery: Players deliver goods by moving their locomotives along their tracks to cities matching their Demand cards.

Card Management: Players manage Demand, Action, and Event cards to optimize their strategy.

Objective

The first player to amass $250 million and connect six of the seven major cities wins the game.

Player Experience

Australian Rails offers a strategic and cerebral experience, appealing to players who enjoy planning and managing resources. The game requires brains and planning to win, with a focus on building a well-planned rail network and counting earnings. It lacks the romantic thrills of other games but is highly satisfying for fans of railroad games.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and resource management.

Cerebral Experience: Appeals to players who enjoy strategic thinking.

Satisfying Gameplay: Building and managing a rail network is highly rewarding.

Cons

Low Player Interaction: Players primarily focus on their own track building and goods delivery, with minimal direct interaction.

Long Playtime: Games can last from 60 to 240 minutes.

Personal Thoughts on Australian Rails

Australian Rails is ideal for fans of railroad games and those who enjoy strategic, cerebral gameplay. It is a great choice for players who appreciate the satisfaction of building and managing complex systems, even though it may not offer the high-interaction dynamics of other board games. If you like railways and have a preference for strategic planning, this game is definitely for you.

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