Shinkansen: Zero-Kei

About this board game

Shinkansen: Zero-Kei is a board game for 1–4 players that takes about 60 minutes, placing you in the role of a builder on Japan’s historic Tōkaidō Shinkansen line.

The railway began construction in 1959, with the goal of launching the fastest train of its time before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Across five rounds—representing the five years of construction—you will help develop the line and its stations while contributing to the preparation of Olympic venues.

Each round, you build your own bullet train by adding carriage cards. Every carriage provides an action or ability, giving you ways to expand the railway, develop stations, support Olympic preparations, and obtain additional carriage cards.

• Build tracks along the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line.
• Construct the stations connected to the railway.
• Collaborate in preparing venues for the Olympic Games.
• Add carriage cards to create an effective train and unlock actions.

Carriage cards are associated with the cities along the route. Arrange and build them in the correct order to earn victory points, making the development of your train an important part of your overall plan.

Efficiency is key as the construction advances through its five rounds. When the final year is complete, the player with the most victory points wins. With its focus on railway construction, city order, and Olympic preparation, Shinkansen: Zero-Kei turns a landmark engineering project into a competitive strategy game.