Gold West

About this board game

Gold West is a 2015 board game for 2–4 players, with games lasting about 60 minutes. Players compete as prospectors, building mining empires while contesting precious metals and influence across the frontier.

The game combines resource management with area control. Each hex contains two or three resources, and players use the metals Copper, Silver, and Gold to earn victory points in several ways. Timber and Stone serve as building materials for camps and settlements, helping players collect more resources and shape the landscape.

Every resource gain must be managed through a mancala-style supply track. The farther back on the track resources are placed, the more points they create as refined products. However, resources placed farther back take longer to reach the front, where they can be used. This creates a constant balance between immediate availability and greater scoring potential.

• Five resources: Copper, Silver, Gold, Timber, and Stone.
• Mining expansion: Build camps and settlements to gather resources and increase influence.
• Frontier competition: Contest terrain types and aim for majority influence at the end of the game.
• Timing decisions: Shipping, investments, and Boomtown offices can reward players who fulfill them earlier.

Gold generally provides the most points, while Silver and Copper are worth slightly less. Terrain majorities also score, with Copper terrains valued highest, followed by Silver, Gold, and Forest terrains. Careful planning can turn a growing mining empire into a leading force in the West’s Golden Age.