Disney Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (2022) Board Game

The Disney Big Thunder Mountain Railroad board game is based on the popular Disney theme park attraction of the same name. Designed by Henning Ludvigsen and published by Funko Games in 2022, this game brings the excitement of the Wild West and train adventures to your tabletop.

Game Components of Disney Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Sculpted plastic mountain peak and mine tray

Mine carts for each player

Locomotive scoring markers

Marbles representing gold, ore, water, and fate

Supplies cards for player actions

Fate cards for random events

Town Shares for end-game points

Coins and victory points

How To Setup Disney Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

To set up the game, players start by assembling the game board, which encircles the molded plastic mountain centerpiece. Each player receives a mine cart and a locomotive scoring marker. The Supplies cards are dealt to each player, with each starting hand consisting of eight cards. The marbles are placed in the reservoir above the mountain, and the Fate cards are shuffled and set aside.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Rondel Movement: Players move their mine carts around the mountain.

Resource Collection: Players collect marbles representing gold, ore, and water.

Deck-Building: Players can upgrade their decks with new Supplies cards.

Random Events: Fate marbles trigger random events from the Fate deck.

Game Objective

The objective is to collect and sell resources to accumulate victory points. Players aim to reach 20 points first to win the game. Points can be earned by selling gold and ore, acquiring Town Shares, and resolving Fate events.

Player Experience

Playing Disney Big Thunder Mountain Railroad involves a mix of strategy and luck. Players rotate the mountain peak to distribute marbles, which can lead to exciting and unpredictable outcomes. The game is scalable, allowing younger or less experienced players to focus on basic actions while more experienced players can engage with deck-building and stock investments. However, the marble distribution mechanism can be frustrating, as marbles often get stuck or follow predictable paths.

Pros

Scalable Complexity: Easy to adapt for different age groups and skill levels.

Interactive Mechanics: Marbles rolling down the mine shafts add a fun, dynamic element.

Strategy Options: Deck-building and resource management provide depth.

Thematic Integration: The game captures the iconic old west setting of the Disney Parks attraction.

Cons

Marble Distribution Issues: The mechanism can be fiddly, leading to frustration and slowdowns.

Predictable Marble Paths: Marbles may not distribute randomly, making some areas of the mountain more favorable.

Flimsy Components: Some players have reported the plastic mountain peak as being flimsy.

Personal Thoughts on Disney Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

This game is ideal for families and casual gamers who enjoy light strategy and interactive elements. While it offers a fun introduction to deck-building and resource management, it may not satisfy experienced gamers seeking more complexity. The game’s ability to scale its complexity makes it a great option for playing with children, but the marble distribution mechanism can be a significant drawback. Overall, it’s a game that brings a bit of the Disney Parks magic to the table, but with some mechanical quirks to navigate.

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