1893: Cologne

About this board game

1893: Cologne is an 18xx game for 2–4 players, set in the Cologne region of Germany, with an approximate playing time of 240 minutes.

Designed by Edwin Eckert and produced by Marflow Games, it offers a distinctive take on the 18xx series, with many departures from the typical 18xx game. Players begin with an equal sum of cash and then decide how to invest in various types of companies.

Once invested, those companies operate and earn income for their shareholders. As technology develops, revenues increase, creating an evolving economic environment in which the value of company investments can grow.

• Equal starting cash for every player
• Investment in various types of companies
• Operating companies that generate income for shareholders
• Developing technology and increasing revenues

The central challenge is to build the strongest personal financial position through the interaction of cash and stock holdings. Company performance matters because it can provide income to shareholders, while the changing technological landscape drives revenue growth over the course of the game.

In 1893: Cologne, the winner is the player with the greatest personal worth at the end of the game. Personal worth combines cash and stock portfolio value, giving players a clear measure of how successfully they have managed their investments.

Released in 2014, 1893: Cologne brings its Cologne setting and distinctive design choices to the established 18xx framework. It is suited to groups looking for a substantial economic board game focused on investment, company operation, shareholder income, and increasing revenues.