Empire Express (2012) Board Game

Empire Express is a board game released in 2012 and designed by Mike Atkinson and Justin Gerard. It is based on the popular Crayon Rail System and focuses on building railroad routes and delivering goods across the United States.

Game Components of Empire Express

Jigsaw-cut board depicting a north-eastern portion of the U.S.

Crayons for drawing railroad tracks

Cardboard load markers

Decks of demand cards

Paper money

Starting track and train components

How To Setup Empire Express

To set up the game, players begin with a bare-bones railroad consisting of an empty train and pre-existing track connections between some cities. The board comes with pre-programmed routes to guide the initial setup. Demand cards are distributed, which provide visual guides for pick-up and delivery locations, making the learning process easier.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Crayon Rail System: Players draw railroad tracks with crayons on an erasable board.

Network and Route Building: Building and expanding rail lines to connect cities and deliver goods.

Pick-up and Deliver: Managing demand cards to deliver goods efficiently.

Game Objective

The objective is to accumulate the largest personal fortune by delivering goods efficiently. Players earn money by completing deliveries as specified on the demand cards, aiming to reach a total of $150 million.

Player Experience

Empire Express offers a blend of logistics and creativity, making it an engaging game. Players must strategically decide which goods to deliver based on the payouts and the current extent of their tracks. The game simplifies the complexity of the original Empire Builder by reducing the number of demands per card and allowing players to discard and replace cards, making it more accessible and faster-paced.

Pros

Simplified rules compared to the original Empire Builder, making it easier to learn.

Visual guides on demand cards reduce the learning curve.

Creative freedom in drawing rail lines.

Quick gameplay, with games often lasting less than 25 minutes for experienced players.

Cons

The yellow crayon can be hard to see on the board.

Some components, like the glossy cards, are a bit flimsy.

Personal Thoughts on Empire Express

Empire Express is an excellent introduction to the Empire Builder series, suitable for both beginners and veteran train game enthusiasts. It streamlines the winning conditions and simplifies the game mechanics, making it a great entry point for new players. For those looking for a fast and fun train game, Empire Express delivers a satisfying experience with its combination of strategic planning and creative route building.

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