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?
Race from Istanbul to Shanghai in an incredibly fun board game filled with tense gaming frustration, strategy and co-player vendettas.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Action Points
Spend a limited allowance of points across several possible actions each turn.
Betting and Bluffing
Risk resources on uncertain outcomes while disguising intentions or information.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Open Drafting
Select cards or items from a shared face-up display.
Advantage Token
A transferable advantage changes ties, priority, or the strength of an action.
Read the full game description
Race from Istanbul to Shanghai in an incredibly fun board game filled with tense gaming frustration, strategy and co-player vendettas. Based on a trip of a lifetime, Route East takes players across mountains, valleys, and stunning wonders of the less explored areas of the world while testing their planning and cunning skills. At the start of each turn, you pick an Ignition card and then you play your three moves. How you play them is up to you - you might decide to move on the board, or pick or play Action Cards that will give you various advantages throughout the game. You might also have to roll the dice to move depending on the circumstances. Plan your route through must-see attractions along the way, and develop a strategy based on budget, fuel, cunning and pure foul play! First one to Shanghai, you got it, wins! It won’t be easy. Did we mention this before? 1) you’ll definitely not have enough money - that’s guaranteed 2) Your teammates will steal from you, bribe their way through borders, and damage your car so badly you’ll be stuck for days without moves 3) Early front-runners get the brunt of abuse - have you not heard that slow and steady wins the race? 4) Play dirty or be kind. Become your competitors’ best ally or screw everyone over and make a dash for the finish. You'll need an equal mix of skill, planning, and bloody savviness to get to Shanghai first.