Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
Steam-belching iron horses roar across the wild plains! Age of Steam relives the era when pioneering U.S.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Auction/Bidding
Bid against other players to determine who receives an item, action, or priority.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Catch the Leader
Rules give trailing players tools to slow or challenge the current leader.
Connections
Create meaningful links between locations, pieces, or concepts.
Loans
Borrow resources now and repay them later, usually with an additional cost.
Read the full game description
Steam-belching iron horses roar across the wild plains! Age of Steam relives the era when pioneering U.S. railroads built the tracks that transformed America's economy. The cut-throat action is centered on the industrial powerhouses of the growing nation: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, and beyond. Challenges that await you: Can you finance both the most extensive track network and the most powerful locomotives? Which routes will give the best returns on their costs? Can you beat the opposition to the most lucrative shipments? Will you make enough money to pay your aggressive creditors? Competition is brutal, with the game usually going to the player who plans most carefully. Each self-contained phase in the game keeps players constantly involved in making vital decisions and interacting with other players. Age of Steam also allows towns to be developed into cities, ensuring that no two games are exactly the same. See also Age of Steam FAQ