Russian Railroads (2013) – Board Game Guys

Russian Railroads

Russian Railroads is a tile-based Euro-style board game for 2 to 4 players by Helmut Ohley and Leonhard Orgler. The game was published in 2013 by Hans im Glück Verlag. The game designers have a history of designing train games, with a heavy concentration on games utilizing the 18xx system. The game is based on the worker placement principle, in which players can in turn distribute their available workforce in open fields in order to gain resources or other benefits. This gameplay is also used in other games of the publishing house, such as Stone Age or Egizia.

Why is Russian Railroads Popular?

Russian Railroads is popular because it is a well-designed game that offers a challenging and engaging experience for players. It has won several awards, including the Deutscher Spiele Preis 2014 – 1st Place, International Gamers Awards 2014 Multiplayer category – Winner, Spielehit für Experten 2014 – Winner, Meeples’ Choice Award 2013 – Winner, Dice Tower 2013 – Best Strategy Game, Spielevater Hit 2014 – Winner, Swiss Gamers Award 2013 – 3rd Place, Nederlandse Spellenprijs – Nomination, Gouden Ludo 2014 – Nomination, and Spiel Portugals Jogo do Ano 2014 – Nomination.

Game Components of Russian Railroads

Personal player boards for each player, featuring three railroad lines and an industry track

Central board with action spaces

Worker tokens (five per player)

Locomotive tiles (valued 1-9)

Track tokens (black, gray, brown, tan, white)

Factory tokens

Engineer tokens

Rouble coins

Marker tokens

Industry track tokens

Bonus and scoring cards

How To Setup Russian Railroads

To set up the game, each player receives a personal board, five worker tokens, a rouble coin, a base locomotive, and an assortment of markers. The central board is placed in the middle of the table, displaying various action spaces. Players begin with a black track already constructed on each of the three railroad lines. Engineers are dealt out equal to the number of rounds being played, and some are flipped over to reveal temporary action spaces.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players take turns placing workers on the central board to perform actions such as advancing tracks, acquiring locomotives, recruiting workers, establishing factories, and more.

Track Construction: Players build and extend their railroad lines, using different colored tracks that score increasingly higher points.

Locomotive Upgrades: Players must acquire higher-valued locomotives to reach further along the tracks.

Industry Track: Players advance on the industry track, which offers additional points and bonuses.

Engineers: Players can hire engineers for unique, powerful actions.

Objective: The goal is to score the most points by constructing railroad lines, upgrading locomotives, and advancing on the industry track.

Player Experience

Russian Railroads is known for its complexity and depth, offering a highly interactive and mathematically rich experience. Players must focus on two or three main strategies rather than trying to do everything, as the game rewards specialization. The game is demanding and requires careful planning, making it less suitable for casual players. The pace is fast, and changing strategies halfway through can be nearly impossible.

Pros

High Replayability: Numerous viable strategies and variable setup ensure high replayability.

Deep Gameplay: Rich mechanics and interlocking systems provide a challenging and engaging experience.

Customization: The industry track and engineer abilities offer a high degree of customization.

Competitive: The game is highly competitive, with victories often decided by just one point.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: The game is complex and can be overwhelming for new players.

Time-Consuming: Games typically last around two hours, which can be daunting for some players.

Limited Flexibility: Changing strategies mid-game is difficult, which can lead to frustration if initial plans do not work out.

Personal Thoughts on Russian Railroads

Russian Railroads is a game for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy deep, strategic gameplay. It is not for the faint of heart, as it requires careful planning, mathematical thinking, and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. For those who enjoy worker placement games and are looking for a challenging, rewarding experience, Russian Railroads is an excellent choice. However, it may not be the best fit for casual players or those new to complex board games.

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