Kansas Pacific

About this board game

Kansas Pacific is a no-luck tactical train game for 3–6 players, with games lasting about 100 minutes. Originally released in 2009, it challenges players to purchase auctioned shares and profit from the growth of six railroads crossing Kansas.

Each railroad begins on the eastern edge of the state. As rail lines extend westward, they earn income by passing through a variety of Kansas cities and towns. Wichita and Topeka offer especially sizable income, making the routes that reach them important opportunities.

Players can run a railroad or share in its profits, creating a contest over valuable positions as the lines develop. The game’s no-luck design keeps attention on tactical choices involving shares, routes, and the direction of railroad expansion.

• Six railroads begin on Kansas’s eastern edge.
• Auctioned shares let players run or share in railroad profits.
• Passing through cities and towns provides income, with major rewards at Wichita and Topeka.
• The western quarter is a land grant area that can provide additional track cubes.
• Reaching the Colorado border grants a sizable income bonus.

The western part of Kansas provides an additional incentive to keep building. Railroads can gain extra track cubes in the land grant area, while lines that reach the Colorado border receive a sizable income bonus.

When the game ends, players count the cash they have on hand. In Kansas Pacific, the player with the most cash is the winner.