18MS: The Railroads Come to Mississippi

About this board game

18MS: The Railroads Come to Mississippi is a 2–4-player 18xx game with a playing time of about 150 minutes, set in Mississippi, Alabama, and portions of adjoining states.

Players invest in railroad companies with the goal of having the greatest net worth at the end of the game. Each player’s final net worth is determined by adding their cash holdings to the value of the stocks they own.

The game is organized into five Stock Rounds. During these rounds, players buy and sell stock in the various railroad companies, making investment decisions that shape their financial position.

• Five Stock Rounds: Buy and sell stock in railroad companies.
• Ten Operating Rounds: Each Stock Round is followed by two Operating Rounds.
• Company operations: Railroad companies lay tracks, place stations, and buy and run trains.

During the Operating Rounds, the companies take their turns developing and running their rail networks. Track laying, station placement, and train purchases are central to the companies’ operations, while players continue to evaluate the value of their stock holdings.

Set across a focused area of the American South, 18MS combines stock-market decisions with the operational activity of railroad companies. Keep track of personal cash and stock value throughout the game, then determine which player has achieved the highest net worth when the game ends.