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American Rails

American Rails

Games on the Brain · 2009
3–590 min14+ yrs2.9/5 complexity7.4 BGGStrategy
short answer

How do you play American Rails?

In American Rails, each player assumes the role of a wealthy capitalist managing a portfolio of stocks and bonds in six fictional railroad companies. Through ruthless negotiation and rigorous planning, players struggle to increase the value of their holdings and reap the profits.

To find the best price for American Rails, howtoplay.ro compares deals from Romanian shops every day.

American Rails box art
official art · Games on the Brain

In American Rails, each player assumes the role of a wealthy capitalist managing a portfolio of stocks and bonds in six fictional railroad companies. Through ruthless negotiation and rigorous planning, players struggle to increase the value of their holdings and reap the profits. The player with the most money at the end of the game will become the nation's first railroad baron and win the game.

This luckless game was inspired by John Bohrer's creation of Chicago Express and the Historic Railroads System from Winsome Games. Set in the United States east of the Mississippi, American Rails features player-controlled variable turn order, "city dilution", and variable set-ups, giving this cutthroat train game an unprecedented level of replayability.

🔬 game anatomy
Complexity2.9 / 5
BGG rating7.4 / 10
Vibe
Strategy
Language dependence
No in-game text needed
🌐 plays without English
Play time
90 min
Players
3–5
Recommended age
14+ yrs

from Trișache · verified

Frequently asked questions

Q1How much does American Rails cost?
No store is currently tracking American Rails. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q2Where can I buy American Rails cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q3How do you play American Rails?
American Rails is a economic game, for 3–5 players, taking ~90 minutes, featuring action drafting. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about American Rails — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q4How many players does American Rails support?
American Rails is played by 3–5 players.
Q5How long does a game of American Rails take?
A game of American Rails takes about 90 minutes. (The first game doesn't count. It never counts.)
Q6What age is American Rails for?
American Rails is recommended from age 14.
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