So this is a series of board games that have the same overlying theme, building railroads, fostering industry and getting a metric carp ton of points while doing it, and the only reason I got the 1.0 version was because at the time I was an uber russophile and train game lover (which obvs nowadays has been downgraded to only a bit of a russophile) it was called Russian Railroads. Later expansions for the game were called German and American, so you were playing Russian Railroads: German Railroads, but a few years ago they made a big box and added a 3rd expansion so there are 4 ways to play, called Ultimate railroads:
Core of the game is easy, worker placement, but the fun of the game is the scoring. its what I call snowball scoring, in the first round you're scoring 3 maybe 4 points but by the end you're scoring in the 100s. Average scores are around 300. Like i said there are 4 modes.
On your turn you place workers, move on various tracks whether they be industry or rail, then at the end of the round, score based on your trains and your where the tracks are (example: you have a 5 train, so you count out five spaces, and score for various tracks behind there, green, bronze, silver, gold)
Russian: Which is the OG but the most simplistic, and I dont play it as often because I DO THE SAME THINGS EVERY TIME. But its good to teach newbies.
German: The best version because you have some modular parts of the tracks (Which are the big way you score)
American: You add a simple stock market mechanic and you have boulders on your track to slow your progress down...... its the weakest of the 4. But ill still play it.
Asian: Adds a shared industry board, and super hyper scoring. Its crazy, its insane and its definitely for people who've played the game a lot.
There is a carp ton in this game that I did not explain. But its so so so much fun, A lot of variability, so much fun scoring (Especially in asian railroads, scoring go whirrrrrrrrrr) and fun combos. I don't know if its in print but if it is, its a high price point but its a great series. Best worker placement game out there.
Keelah Se'lai.
Me.
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