Kings of Air and Steam

About this board game

Kings of Air and Steam is a shipping strategy game for 2–7 players, played across five rounds in about 90 minutes. Set on the cusp of the twentieth century, it casts players as rival shipping barons competing to move goods from factories to demanding cities.

Factories produce machinery, textiles, chemicals, food, and luxuries. Airships can carry cargo over long distances, but they cannot land in cities, so goods must be delivered to depots along the rail network. From there, trains transport them to the cities that want them, earning cash for the competitor who arrives first.

At the start of each round, every player secretly plans four Airship movement cards. Players reveal those plans one at a time, moving their Airships according to turn order and card movement limits before taking an action.

• Build Depots to expand access to the rail network.
• Upgrade Airships or Trains to improve your shipping operation.
• Ship Goods by rail to cities before demand is met.
• Solicit Funds from the bank when additional money is needed.

As goods rise in value, players must watch the market and decide which specialized factories to serve. Timing matters: valuable cargo can generate more money, but another competitor may reach the destination first.

Each game includes seven teams of characters, each offering unique powers that provide a competitive edge. The modular game board also changes from game to game, creating a different network to navigate each time.

At the end of Kings of Air and Steam, the player with the most money and the greatest shipping network is declared the King of Air and Steam.