Railways of the World

2005

Railways of the World is a thrilling board game experience where you create your own railway empire, connect cities, and outpace competitors. Perfect for train game enthusiasts.

120
minutes

2 - 6
player(s)

10+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Railways of the World is a captivating board game that teleports you back in time to the era of the steam engine, where you take the reins of a budding railway company. You compete against your fellow players in an epic race to build the most extensive and profitable railway network.

In the game, you find yourself in the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution, a time of rapid technological and societal change. The setting is expansive, covering areas from the rugged landscapes of North America to the bustling cities of Europe. Each terrain presents its own unique challenges and opportunities, making every game an exciting and different experience.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Railways of the World is a popular board game that involves strategy, planning, and a touch of history. Each component in the game is significant and contributes to the overall gameplay. Here is a list of the components included in Railways of the World, along with a description and explanation of each:

1. Game Board: This is the main platform where all the actions take place. It represents a map where cities and towns are depicted. Players build railway tracks between these cities and towns to establish their railway empire.

2. Rules Manual: This is the guide that provides the detailed rules of the game, explaining how each component interacts with the game and the strategies which can be applied to win.

3. Plastic Trains: These are the primary pieces that players use to mark their progress on the game board. Each player has a set of trains in a specific color, and these trains are placed on the tracks that they build.

4. Railroad Tracks: These are small, rectangular pieces that players use to build railways between cities and towns on the game board. They come in different lengths, representing different lengths of railways.

5. Money (Paper Currency): Money is used to bid for turn order, build tracks, and pay costs throughout the game. Players can earn money through various means, such as delivering goods, and must manage it wisely to ensure they can afford to continue expanding their railway empire.

6. Bonds: Bonds are essentially loans that players can take out if they run out of money. These must be repaid with interest, which adds an extra element of strategy to the game.

7. City Growth Markers: These markers are used to indicate that a city has grown, increasing the demand for goods and making it a more valuable destination for deliveries.

8. Empty City Markers: These markers are used to indicate that a city has no more goods to be delivered. This can change the dynamics of the game, as it may force players to alter their strategies and seek out new cities for deliveries.

9. Score Track: This is a track around the edge of the game board, used to keep track of each player’s score. Players move their score markers along this track as they earn points throughout the game.

10. Goods Cubes: These cubes represent the goods that players deliver between cities. Each cube has a different color, corresponding to the color of the city it must be delivered to.

11. Card Deck: The card deck contains various types of cards, such as Railroad Operation cards and Baron cards, which can affect the game in different ways. These cards add an element of unpredictability and strategy to the game.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Railways of the World is a highly engaging strategy game where players build a network of railroads and deliver goods. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Preparing the Game Board

Unfold the game board and place it in the center of the playing area. Make sure all players can easily access the game board from their seats. The board depicts various cities and terrain that players will interact with during the game.

Step 2: Preparing the Cards

Shuffle the Railroad Operation cards and place them face down in a pile next to the game board. These cards provide players with additional options during their turn.

Step 3: Setting up the Goods

Sort the goods cubes by color and place them in a shared supply next to the game board. Randomly place one cube on each city on the game board, matching the color of the cube to the color of the city.

Step 4: Preparing the Players’ Resources

Each player chooses a color and takes the matching set of trains and a player marker. Players place their marker on the ‘0’ space of the scoring track on the game board. Each player also receives a starting capital of $20 million.

Step 5: Determining the First Player

Determine the first player randomly. This player takes the first player marker.

Step 6: Initial Bidding

Starting with the first player and going clockwise, each player has a chance to bid on the starting player position, with the minimum bid being $1 million. The highest bidder pays their bid to the bank, becomes the first player, and the game begins.

Step 7: Initial Card Distribution

Deal 3 Railroad Operation cards to each player. Players may look at their cards but should keep them secret from other players.

By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth setup and start for your game of Railways of the World.

Game flow Round and round we go

Railways of the World is a strategic board game that simulates the establishment and expansion of railway systems across various regions. The game progresses in a series of rounds until the victory conditions are met. Each round consists of three phases: the Auction Phase, the Building Phase, and the Operation Phase.

Auction Phase

The first phase of each round is the Auction Phase. Players bid on the available Railroad Operations cards, which grant special abilities or bonuses for the round. The player with the most money begins the auction, and bidding proceeds clockwise. Each player can either bid higher or pass. Once a player passes, they cannot reenter the bidding for that card. The highest bidder pays their bid to the bank and takes the Railroad Operations card.

Building Phase

During the Building Phase, players can build tracks, upgrade their locomotives, or urbanize a city. The player with the first Railroad Operations card starts this phase. Players can take any combination of these three actions in any order, but they must pay the associated costs. Building tracks involves placing track tiles on the board, and the cost depends on the terrain and the distance. Upgrading a locomotive allows a player to expand their rail network more efficiently, and urbanizing lets a player add a new city to their network.

Operation Phase

The last phase is the Operation Phase. Players deliver goods from one city to another using their railway network. The player with the first Railroad Operations card also starts this phase. Each delivery earns income for the player, based on the distance the good traveled. The game’s victory points are the player’s income, so effective deliveries are crucial for winning the game.

These phases repeat in each round until either the victory conditions are met or all the track tiles or goods have been used. The player with the highest income at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Railways of the World is a complex and strategic board game that involves building railway routes and delivering goods to earn points. Here is a detailed breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn:

Each player’s turn consists of three stages: the Auction Phase, the Action Phase, and the Income and Expenses Phase.

The Auction Phase

The turn begins with the Auction Phase, which determines the turn order for the rest of the round. This phase involves strategy and risk-taking, as the player must decide how much they are willing to pay for the advantage of going first.

The player may choose to bid, pass, or increase their bid.
The highest bidder pays their bid to the bank and takes the first player marker.
If a player passes, they cannot reenter the bidding for that round.
The remaining bids determine the rest of the turn order.

The Action Phase

During the Action Phase, the player can perform various actions to expand their railway network and deliver goods. The actions a player can take are:

Build Track: The player may build a railway track on the game board. The cost depends on the type of terrain and any rivers or mountains present.
Upgrade City: The player may upgrade a city by paying the upgrade cost. This allows the player to place more goods on the city and earn more points when delivering goods.
Deliver Goods: The player may deliver goods from one city to another using their rail network. The player earns points based on the number of links used in the delivery.
Draw a Railroad Operations Card: The player may draw a card from the Railroad Operations deck. These cards provide special abilities or bonuses.

The Income and Expenses Phase

In the final phase, the player earns income based on the cities they have connected and pays expenses for their railway network. If a player’s expenses exceed their income, they must take out loans.

The player earns income for each city they have connected.
The player pays expenses for each link in their railway network.
If the player’s expenses exceed their income, they must take out loans. Each loan reduces the player’s final score.

By carefully planning their actions and managing their resources, players can build an efficient railway network and earn the most points to win the game.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Railways of the World’ ends when one of two conditions is met:

The Bank Runs Out of Money: At the end of a round where the bank has run out of money, the game ends. This triggers the end of the game regardless of the number of actions taken or the number of turns left in the current round.
Player Completes their 20th Rail Link: The game also ends when a player completes their 20th rail link on the game board. Upon doing so, the current round is finished to ensure that all players have had an equal number of turns. After this, the game concludes.

At the end of the game, final scoring takes place. Before final scoring, players must carry out the following actions:

Emptying Goods: Players must attempt to empty as many of their goods cubes off the board as possible. This is because each goods cube left on the board is worth negative points during final scoring.
Completing Destination Tickets: Players should also aim to complete as many Destination Tickets as possible. These tickets, which represent routes between two cities, provide positive points if completed and negative points if not.
Calculate Rail Links: Players must count the number of rail links they have on the board. Each link provides points during final scoring.

In terms of victory conditions, the player with the highest score at the end of the game is declared the winner. Points are awarded based on the following:

Completed Destination Tickets: Each completed Destination Ticket provides a specific number of points, as indicated on the ticket.
Rail Links: Each rail link a player has on the board provides one point.
Money: Every $1,000 a player has at the end of the game provides one point.
Goods Cubes: Each goods cube a player has left on the board deducts one point from their final score.
Uncompleted Destination Tickets: Each uncompleted Destination Ticket deducts the points indicated on the ticket from the player’s final score.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Railways of the World’, players accumulate points through various actions throughout the game. The scoring system is as follows:

Scoring During the Game

Railroad Operations: Players earn points by successfully building railroad tracks between cities. The number of points depends on the length of the route, with longer routes earning more points.
Delivering Goods: Players earn points by using their railroads to deliver goods from one city to another. Each successful delivery earns one point.
Completing Rail Baron Cards: Players can earn points by completing the objectives on Rail Baron Cards. The number of points varies depending on the difficulty of the objective.

Scoring at the End of the Game

Unused Money: At the end of the game, players convert their unused money into points. Every $1,000 is worth one point.
Majority Bonuses: The player with the most railroads in a region earns a majority bonus. The number of bonus points depends on the region.
Longest Continuous Path: The player with the longest continuous path of railroads earns bonus points.

The game ends when the draw pile of Rail Baron Cards is empty, and the player with the highest total score wins. In the case of a tie, the tie-breaking rules are applied:

Tie-Breaking Rules

The player with the most unused money wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the longest continuous path of railroads wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who went first in the game wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Rare or Special Rules in ‘Railways of the World’

Empty Cities: In some instances, a player may find a city that does not have any color dots. These cities are considered empty and can be used for routing, but they do not count towards the income calculation.
Linking Rule: Players are only allowed to link to other players’ railways if they are connected to a major line. This rule is often overlooked and can significantly change the outcome of the game.
Mountain Crossings: When crossing a mountain, a player must pay an additional cost. However, this cost is not required when building along the edge of a mountain.

Rule Exceptions in ‘Railways of the World’

It is important to note that the first player in each round is determined by the order of operations from the previous round, not by the highest income.
When bidding for turn order, a player may not bid more than they have in cash. Any attempt to do so is considered invalid and the player must make a new bid.
Players cannot build on water hexes unless they possess a certain card that allows it.

Rule Clarifications for ‘Railways of the World’

Income Reduction: It’s important to remember that income reduction only happens when the player’s income marker reaches the income reduction space on the track. It does not occur every time a player’s income increases.
Track Ownership: Once a track is built, it remains the property of the player who built it for the rest of the game. Other players can connect to it but they cannot take control of it.
Bidding: In case of a tie in the bidding phase, the player who is earlier in the turn order wins the bid.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Railways of the World is a challenging and engaging game where players build a railroad empire. The game requires strategic thinking, planning, and efficient resource management. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay.

Advanced Strategies:

Focus on High-Value Cities: Always try to connect to high-value cities as early as possible. This can help you earn more points and get a significant early advantage.
Control Key Junctions: By controlling key junctions on the board, you can force other players to pay you to use your rails.
Plan for Long-Distance Deliveries: Plan your routes in a way that allows you to make long-distance deliveries. These deliveries are worth more points.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Rulebook: Before starting, make sure to thoroughly understand the rulebook. It will help you make better strategic decisions during the game.
Start Small: For beginners, it’s advisable to start with small routes and gradually expand your network. This will give you a solid foundation and lessen the risk of overextension.
Balance Your Budget: Make sure to balance your budget wisely. Don’t overspend in the initial rounds as it can leave you with limited options later in the game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Overextending Too Early: Overextending your rail network without a solid foundation can lead to financial troubles. It’s crucial to balance expansion with income.
Ignoring Opponents’ Moves: It’s essential to keep an eye on your opponents’ strategies and adapt your plans accordingly. Ignoring what other players are doing can lead to missed opportunities.
Neglecting Long-Distance Routes: Many beginners ignore the value of long-distance routes. These routes can provide a significant point boost, so don’t neglect them.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Efficient Route Planning: Plan your routes efficiently. Always look for the shortest and most cost-effective way to connect cities.
Smart Resource Management: Manage your resources wisely. Every dollar counts in this game, so spend carefully.
Strategic Use of Cards: Use your cards strategically. Some cards can provide a significant advantage if used at the right time.