Wouter & Ymke 
In the aftermath of a colossal economic conflict, four pioneering factions united to construct a sprawling railroad network through towering mountains rich in precious ores. Train Rush invites players to step into the shoes of the descendants of these founding factions, each vying to secure their dominance in the current market and exert the greatest influence over the economy.
👥 2-4 players, ages 12+
⌛ Playing time: 120-240 minutes
📝 Designer: Sebastian Szponar
🎨 Artwork: Marek Frankowski
🏢 Publisher: MTE Games (prototype copy provided)
Check out the Gamefound campaign by clicking here
The Setting: A Post-War Railroad Empire
As a player, you’ll embody one of the economic barons at the intersection of three vast regions, each depicted on the game board in vivid hues of red, blue, and green. The game unfolds over eight rounds, comprising seven distinct phases that challenge your strategic thinking and resource management skills.
The Core of Train Rush: A Look at the Phases
The adventure begins with determining the round’s turn order during the auction phase. Here, players secretly bid for their position by selecting one of their numbered meeples. This hidden bid sets the stage for the lobbying phase, where, starting from the highest bidder, meeples are dispatched to the influence area. It’s a crucial moment to upgrade your equipment, enhancing loading and unloading capabilities, wagon capacity, and your income in coal and money—vital for the upcoming income phase.
The fourth phase delves deeper into the strategic gameplay, where players judiciously use their investment markers on a variety of actions. Whether it’s purchasing coal, constructing warehouses, expanding your train’s wagons, or moving the locomotive, each action is intricately tied to the region your train currently occupies. This phase continues until all players have passed, leading to the movement phase.
In this phase, players execute their strategic moves using movement cards, each outlining three potential actions. Opting to complete all three movements not only propels your train forward but also rewards you with bonuses for the extra effort.
The game continues as trains halt at various locations. In cities, players can leave their mark, rent warehouses, and fulfill contracts. The black market offers a bustling hub for trading resources for valuable cards, wagons, and more, while railway sidings provide bonus tokens and possibly a package, earning extra points towards your final score. These stops also trigger economic scoring opportunities for warehouse and transfer station ownership.
The penultimate mission phase allows players to unveil a hero card, embarking on missions that promise rewarding points at the game’s conclusion. As each round ends, the board resets, preparing players for the next cycle of strategic decisions.
Train Rush reaches its conclusion after the 8th round or when a player successfully places all their nine city markers, signaling the game’s end. Points are tallied from technology tracks, influence areas, infrastructure, contracts, and completed missions, determining the ultimate influencer in this riveting economic battleground.
From Concept to Crowdfunding: The Journey of Train Rush
Designed by Sebastian Szponar and published by MTE Games, Train Rush is gearing up for its crowdfunding campaign, which is set to launch on Gamefound on March 1st. This game, a complex Eurogame designed for 2-4 players aged 12 and above, promises an immersive 2-4 hour experience that blends strategic depth with a rich thematic backdrop.
Having received a prototype from the publisher, it’s important to note that while our insights into the rulebook are based on its preliminary version, which could benefit from refinement, the components we’ve seen so far hint at a promising final product. Train Rush demands a generous amount of table space, filled with numerous components and an expansive play area, all adorned with Marek Frankowski’s art that beautifully encapsulates the game’s theme.
Navigating Complexity: The Rich Strategic Layers of Train Rush
Train Rush offers a challenging strategic experience where every decision can significantly influence future gameplay. The board is cleverly divided into three color-coded regions, guiding the actions players can take based on their locomotive’s location. The track itself is designed in three loops with intersections, requiring players to make critical decisions about their route to optimize city token placement, economic scoring opportunities, contract fulfillment, and the construction of warehouses and transfer stations. This complexity places Train Rush firmly on the heavier end of the board game spectrum.
Despite the absence of direct conflict on the tracks, players can still strategically interfere with one another’s plans. The game’s unique action selection mechanism during the investment phase introduces a competitive edge. With actions requiring 2 or 3 investment tokens and limited spaces available, players must choose wisely, as selecting a more costly action limits the availability for others. This also extends to building transfer stations and warehouses, where claiming a desired spot can thwart an opponent’s strategy. Moreover, the “first come, first serve” principle in fulfilling contracts brings another layer of tactical rivalry to the table.
Our gameplay experience, which included a session with our 14-year-old son, highlighted the game’s complexity without overwhelming new players to the genre. However, the duration of the game, stretching close to 4 hours with three and four players, might test the patience of some, particularly younger or less experienced gamers. Train Rush is undeniably an investment of time, demanding engagement and dedication from all participants to fully enjoy its depth.
Final Thoughts
Train Rush is an evening-filling experience, venturing into the heart of strategic railroad empire-building. Despite its lengthy duration and the steep learning curve, the game maintains an engaging rhythm, avoiding any sense of tedium. With intricate gameplay, thematic depth, and multiple paths to victory devoid of luck, the game offers a rewarding challenge and high replayability. We find Train Rush an excellent choice for those who relish a dynamic and challenging board game experience.
📝 Disclaimer: Our experience with Train Rush is based on a prototype copy kindly provided by MTE Games. Please keep in mind that the final product may feature adjustments and enhancements not reflected in our preview.
