Transatlantic (2017) Board Game

Transatlantic, designed by Mac Gerdts, was released in 2017 by PD-Verlag. It is a strategic board game that combines elements of economic, industry/manufacturing, nautical, and transportation themes. The game has been well-received by players for its engaging gameplay and unique mechanics.

Game Components of Transatlantic

Player boards: Each player receives a small board to manage goods tokens.

Ship cards: 50 historical steamships from the late 1800s and early 1900s, such as the Rotterdam, New England, and Titanic.

Goods tokens: Match the flag color of the ship cards and function as multipliers for scoring points.

Action cards: Allow players to perform various actions like buying new ships, adding coal to steamships, and transporting goods.

Trade houses: Can be purchased to earn points when players ship goods in corresponding sea regions.

Historical booklet: Provides background information on all the ships in the game.

Insert for the game box: For organizing components.

How To Setup Transatlantic

To set up Transatlantic, each player starts with a sail ship and one steam ship, along with a player board and a starting hand of 7 action cards. The game area is divided into different sea regions where ships will be deployed. Players also receive goods tokens that match the colors of the ship cards. The supply of new action cards and ship cards is prepared, and the trade house tokens are placed within reach of all players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Play: Players play one action card per turn, which can be used to buy new ships, add coal to steamships, transport goods, or retrieve played cards.

Ship Deployment: Players deploy ships into different sea regions to earn money.

Ship Scrapping: Older ships can be pushed out of business by newer ships and eventually scrapped, earning points based on goods tokens.

Trade Houses: Buying trade houses in specific sea regions to earn points when shipping goods there.

Objectives: The primary goal is to accumulate points by making your ships valuable and efficiently using your action cards.

Player Experience

Playing Transatlantic involves making strategic and tactical decisions. Players must decide when to play which card, how to capitalize on the situation in different sea regions, and whether to specialize in certain goods tokens or diversify their shipping operations. The game is known for its quick turns and meaningful decisions, making it engaging without feeling overly lengthy.

Pros

Hand Management Mechanics: Similar to Concordia, but improved in some aspects.

Historical Theme: Includes a detailed historical booklet about the ships.

Quick Turns: Turns are fast-paced and decisive.

Variants Included: The game comes with different variants to keep gameplay fresh.

Good Quality Components: Overall fine quality of the components and the insert for the game box.

Cons

Rulebook Issues: The rulebook is criticized for being unclear and poorly translated.

Graphical Errors: Color mismatches between cards and tokens are a recurring issue.

Lack of Theme Immersion: Some players find the theme does not fully immerse them in the game.

Personal Thoughts on Transatlantic

Transatlantic is ideal for fans of economic and transportation-themed games, particularly those who enjoy hand management mechanics. While it has some similarities to Concordia, it stands out with its unique steamship theme and historical depth. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking a deeply immersive theme or those who are frustrated by poor rulebook quality and graphical errors. If you enjoy strategic card play and the historical context of steamships, Transatlantic is definitely worth considering.

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