Coal, steam and steel. “Age of Steam: Deluxe Edition” – board game review

Reissue of a classic

Age of Steam: Deluxe Edition is a Kickstarter project to relaunch the already legendary game. The challenge was taken up by Portal Games, which is already admirable considering the size of this board game. It is a real colossus, with a box full of various elements. The game itself focuses on the development of the railway on different continents, which is announced by a very aesthetic cover. Our task is to expand the railway company, take care of business, and build new connections. Classic, simple idea, great execution. But let’s get to the point.

How many of us do we need?

We will need one to six people to play a round in Age of Steam . That’s right – you can also play solo! It is difficult to determine the time of the game, because a lot depends on the number and involvement of players. A game with two people should easily close in about an hour, but the larger the number of players, the longer the fun.

The course of the game

The game itself consists of several rounds (it depends on the number of players). The rounds are divided into phases, during which the players take turns performing their actions. What do we actually have to do in this game? Transport cubes of goods from one place to another. It sounds trivial, but it involves a whole lot of thinking. The first phase is the issue of shares. We start the game with debts, and the next rounds increase them. At the end of the round, however, we have to pay off our debts, which involves a really large dose of logical thinking. Numbers, numbers and more numbers – you have to be prepared for this. Planning and calculations are a constant element of Age of Steam .

The next phase of the game is Bidding. The order in which the next steps will take place is what matters here. Possibilities include a raise or a pass that ends up being last in line. This mechanic works great with a larger group, but works on average with fewer players. After that, we move on to the Special Actions phase. We start with building tracks (up to three tiles), but we can also do something completely different. Swap the order, increase the number of track tiles, even place a city on the map – a lot of possibilities, a lot of strategic options. Remember that the main goal is to deliver goods from point A to point B, so it’s worth thinking about exactly what our line, collection points, etc. will look like. Choosing one special action is a lot of possibilities, each one should be carefully considered. Winning or losing may depend on it.

Best of the best

After all these analyzes and considerations comes the moment for the most spectacular phase of the game, during which the board itself is built using the tracks. Filling maps that reflect real terrain is great fun, and players can use their imagination to shape new routes and connections. The only downside? The more tracks, the harder it is to remember who put what and where.

He does not forgive mistakes

The game gives a lot of scope for people who love confrontations. We get a lot of opportunities to compete, throw a log under our feet and make it difficult for opponents. The whole thing makes the experience even slightly stressful. A small mistake is enough for a seemingly certain victory to slip out of our hands. The worst possible option is to drop out of the game while playing. This is probably the biggest downside of this game. After all, what is such a player supposed to do for the rest of the game?

For the patient

Are the rules simple? Well, not quite. We are able to master them, but it takes some time and patience. However, it is worth it, because we get a great working, very replayable board game with a huge degree of interaction between players. In addition, a beautiful, although very economical design. We will not get colorful illustrations here, and a lot is left to our imagination. Is that wrong though? I personally felt during the game like a real railway magnate, who on the maps shows the first routes of the railway crossing the Wild West. The key to liking Age of Steam is a large dose of imagination, patience, as well as a passion for numbers and planning.

Beautiful, but not easy

Age of Steam: Deluxe Edition is a beautiful game, made of the highest quality materials, full of passion, but also difficult. This is a monumental board game with plenty of puzzles, calculations and logical challenges. The economical design may make some players just bounce off it. However, those who stay will get to know the taste of managing a railway company from the inside out. Definitely worth it!