String Railway (2009) Board Game

String Railway is a board game designed by Hisashi Hayashi and first released in 2009 by OKAZU Brand. The game falls into the territory building and trains categories, where players compete to build the most efficient railway network.

Game Components of String Railway

String pieces representing railway tracks

Station tiles

City tiles

Station markers

String Railway cards

How To Setup String Railway

Place the station tiles in the center of the table to form the starting network.

Each player receives a set of station markers and string pieces.

Shuffle the String Railway cards and deal a certain number to each player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Players take turns placing string pieces to build railway tracks between stations, earning points for connecting cities and completing routes. The objective is to have the most points at the end of the game by strategically building and expanding your railway network.

Player Experience

Pros:

Easy to learn and play

Strategic depth in route planning

Colorful and engaging components

Cons:

Limited replayability

Lack of player interaction

Some may find the string mechanic gimmicky

Personal Thoughts on String Railway

String Railway offers a unique twist on the territory building genre with its use of string pieces as railway tracks. While the game is enjoyable and offers strategic depth, its replayability may be limited for some players. The build quality of the components is solid, and the game is priced reasonably for the experience it offers.

In terms of availability, String Railway can be found in both new and used condition, making it accessible to a wide range of players. As for alternatives and similar games, fans of territory building and network building games may enjoy titles like Ticket to Ride or Power Grid.

Overall, String Railway is worth your time if you enjoy strategic planning and building games. It is suitable for players aged 8 and up, and those who appreciate unique game mechanics and colorful components. However, players seeking high player interaction or deep replayability may want to skip this title.

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