Age of Industry Expansion: Great Lakes & South Africa

About this expansion

Age of Industry Expansion: Great Lakes & South Africa adds two historical maps to Age of Industry for 2–5 players, with games lasting about 120 minutes.

The Great Lakes map is designed for 2 players and covers the region around the Great Lakes in Canada and the United States. Here, waterways are central to moving the iron ore and coal that support vital industries, including steelmaking and automotive manufacturing.

Seasonal conditions create an important regional challenge. The Seaway closes during winter because of difficult navigation conditions, meaning international markets are not accessible all year from Great Lakes ports. During this period, shippers must rely on rail to move goods or wait until the Seaway reopens in spring.

• Great Lakes: a 2-player map shaped by waterways, rail transport, seasonal closure, and industrial supply.
• South Africa: a 3–5-player map focused on mining development, coastal ports, and the hinterland.

The South Africa map is designed for 3 to 5 players and takes place at the end of the 19th century. Important gold and diamond deposits have been discovered in the northeast of the territory of the present-day South African Republic, creating the need to develop this part of the continent.

To exploit the mines and maintain a continuous supply of equipment, investors must establish ports in coastal cities and develop the hinterland from there. Age of Industry Expansion: Great Lakes & South Africa offers two distinct regional settings, each defined by its geography, resources, and historical development.