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Game Info
Year
2019
Collection
Ratings
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
Campaign Trail is a strategy board game in which players pit their campaign skills against one another as they vie for the Presidency of the United States.
The confetti is flying, the champagne is flowing, and you have just accepted your party's nomination for President of the United States. Now it's time to hit the Campaign Trail! How will you chart your path to victory? Engage in grass roots campaigning, advertise, sling mud at opponents, fundraise, debate, and so much more! But be sure to avoid revealing those skeletons you have buried in your closet. The candidate who best manages their resources and connects with the public on key issues will win the presidency!
Campaign Trail uses card driven actions to implement your strategy. Your goal is to have the most voters for your party in enough states to win a majority of electoral votes. If you have the most voters in a state you are awarded that state's electoral votes (victory points). At the end of the game the player with the most electoral votes wins and is declared the president!
On your turn you play a card and take an action from that card. Each card has a choice among 4 of the game's 6 actions. You may (depending on what is on your card):
Fundraise - Add money to your war chest to be spent later on advertising campaigns and campaign rallies.
Register - Add voters to your registered voter supply so that they can commit to vote for you in the various states.
Travel - Move your candidate around the United States to set yourself up for large campaign rallies in key states.
Advertise - Create and implement advertising campaigns based on the issues of the day. Each time you advertise you will receive voters in the states that care about the issues you covered.
Campaign - Hold local campaign rallies where your candidate is located. Campaigning allows you to gain large numbers of voters in the state(s) you are in and adjacent to.
Hold Event - Hold various political events. Some may give votes, some may increase resources, all are helpful.
In addition to the base of card driven mechanics and area control, you will have a candidate card which gives you an individual player power. You will also have the opportunity to debate the current issues with your opponent. And finally, through the use of event cards, you can build up an engine to help out with resource production.
Featured Videos
Review
Campaign Trail: Discussion
Rules Teach
Campaign Trail: Learn to Play
Playthrough
Campaign Trail Runthrough
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 15
This page: 15
Sentiment:
pos 9 ·
mix 2 ·
neu 1 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–15 of 15
Video JcMhWTrxQg4
Board Games UnLocked Playthrough at 0:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 113922 · mention_pk 325773
Click to watch at 0:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging debate mechanics
- Dynamic events add replayability
- Strategic depth through resource management and area control
Cons
- Can be complex to track all actions
- Luck of the draw with Breaking News cards can be significant
Thematic elements
- US presidential election campaigning
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players place voters (tokens) into states to gain control of regions and win states.
- event cards — Breaking News cards introduce random events that impact gameplay, forcing players to adapt.
- Hand Management — Players use cards for various actions like campaigning, advertising, and politicking, with hand limits being discussed.
- Resource Management — Players manage money (millions of dollars) and voters (represented by tokens) to fund actions and influence the game.
- Set Collection — Debate mechanics involve playing cards that match icons on debate topics.
- Variable player powers — Each player's chosen candidate has unique abilities and limitations, affecting their strategy.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Campaign Trail with the newest green party expansion
- you have the best analytical methods for predicting results
- I do have a tendency to overspend on advertisements
- you don't have as many options having not developed good political skills
- The politic actions are the most fun part of the game
- I'm going to use that to move I am just moving through the great state of Ohio
- you're like great let me do it again no
- this game is not worth it
- Yeah it's like somebody like I like game sandwiches that's how you know when someone's losing the debate that your hair looks nice
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IGrnHJhEcI8
Board Games UnLocked Review at 0:15 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 113923 · mention_pk 325774
Click to watch at 0:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Conflict feels warranted and thematic.
- Debate mechanic is thematic.
- Works well at three players, with no one feeling consistently "[ __ ]ed on".
- Not overly aggressive for an area control game.
- Deluxe version has clear visual components for state values.
- Breaking news cards add flavor and theme.
- The game length is not excessive.
- Politician representations are balanced and not overly punishing.
- Tiebreakers are useful, especially late game.
Cons
- Card agency doesn't always feel impactful due to randomness.
- Can feel dated due to its attempt at realism.
- Campaigning in certain states is extremely limited.
- Lacks a strong 'wedge' mechanic.
- Thematic representation of parties/candidates can be superficial (e.g., libertarian feels defined by state control rather than card actions).
- The debate mechanic doesn't involve actual discussion.
- Significant luck element due to card draws.
- Placing voters can feel muddy and unclear.
- Limited planning due to random card draws and campaign options.
- Advertising is the most consistent mechanic, potentially overshadowing others.
Thematic elements
- Running for president in the US political system.
- United States politics
Comparison games
- Chawson
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players compete to control states on a map of the United States.
- Card Drafting — Players utilize cards that influence actions like campaigning, placing voters, and triggering events.
- Debate Mechanic — A phase where players engage in simulated debates, influenced by cards and player actions.
- Set Collection — Collecting specific types of cards or achieving certain political outcomes.
- Tiebreaker — A mechanism to resolve ties, which is particularly useful in securing control of states.
- Variable player powers — Different political parties or candidates have unique advantages or disadvantages.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I don't think it's great by any means like I I couldn't see myself wanting to sit down and play this all the time.
- for area control game the cards have a lot of agency but because the cars are so Random their agency doesn't always feel like it matters
- I think shawson's area control is much better
- this game I feel like just gets immediately dated
- so California Texas New York we're almost in none of these cards yeah and so it's almost like well of course those States can't swing so you can never campaign there
- I still would rather play shawson
- uh on a scale of one to ten what would you guys give campaign Trail I'll do seven yeah six point five yeah I'm actually I'm kind of right there I think I'm gonna give it a 6.5 as well
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6eziJtNhoV4
BoardGameTeacher Rules Teach at 0:03 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 89266 · mention_pk 236852
Click to watch at 0:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Political game where players take the role of a presidential candidate.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players place voters in states to gain influence, and the game tracks Electoral College votes.
- Card Drafting — Players choose candidate cards and action cards during setup and gameplay.
- Hand Management — Players play action cards from their hand to perform actions.
- Player Elimination — The game ends with one winner who becomes president, implying others do not win.
- Resource Management — Players manage money (war chest) and voters (registered voters and undecided voters).
- Set Collection — Players collect voters and money, and there are actions related to advertising on specific issues.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The game consists of three months or rounds August September and October
- Within each month you have player turns which takes four steps step one choose an action card to play step two carry out the action step three discard the card and step four draw back up to five cards
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VqAjoPjia78
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 38:18 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87923 · mention_pk 230527
Click to watch at 38:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Best political-themed game that isn't political
- Neutral representation of the election process
- Fun and strategic card play
- Never leaving the collection
Cons
- Ending feels predictable
- Presence of 'take that' cards that can be too powerful at the end
Thematic elements
- Presidential Election
- United States
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — The game is described as an area control game about electing the president.
- Card Drafting — Features multi-use cards that players save and strategically use.
- Set Collection — Players save cards to cash in for specific states with a lot of electoral votes.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's just it's the best political themed that is not political uh game that's out there
- I still think it's amazing game it's a game that'll never leave my collection
- I still don't think it's as good as Battle Star Galactica but I don't like setting up all of battar Galactica this is kind of nice that in faal is just one box you open it up and you can play
- I'm not I'm just I'm not going ever say I don't like unfathomable I think it was fun
- and a lot of comments of like I know how how boys are aren't you worried about what boys will do if they're using a bathroom around uh a woman or whatever or a girl
- it is it is a real it's a real goddamn problem and you're worried about whether or not I just I can't even I can't even put it in words
- how dare you I mean how dare you like want to make things more difficult for children all over the world like you just just because you have just an unfounded ridiculous worry about what could possibly happen in a bath room
- I want my kids to grow up to be woke if you want to call it that I want them to be aware of how how you be a good person and how you be inclusive and you be inviting and you be understanding and you be open
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WMfhwmMbL5c
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 43:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87915 · mention_pk 230470
Click to watch at 43:41 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fantastic
- Brilliant game
Cons
- Long playtime (potentially 5 hours with teaching and questions)
Thematic elements
- Political campaign
Comparison games
- Arkham Horror
- Eldritch Horror
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's the simplest design and it's so freaking great
- it's freaking so much fun because it's simple
- it's easy to teach it's fun it's it's silly it's stupid
- oh that sounds ridiculous it is really oh it sounds ridiculous
- the suit of the boss eliminates that power for that round
- was overwhelmed and I I understand that that's part of the reason I want to play with cuz I was overwhelmed trying to play all five at once
- I couldn't see the overall strategy
- I like frost punk
- the Minis they have for the the the player pieces like the characters you play are awesome looking sculpts but I really don't like them because they have other characters on the thing with them
- it's parkour it's zombies with parkour
- capitalism is the worst idea ever but it's the best idea that we have now
- art is art only sounds like a product it isn't because I have discussions with artists a lot
- we are very picky and choosy when it comes to what bothers us and what doesn't
- it's like we all seem to we all want to say oh well you know it's like we need to nobody nobody complains that they're getting a t-shirt for $10 because it's being made in a sweat shop in Malaysia
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kGWETVxgg-k
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 4:07:30
video_pk 87757 · mention_pk 229914
Click to watch at 4:07:30 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it was a little too long 12 hands was too many I would have preferred playing the 500 instead of a thousand
- this system was had its cool things it had some cool things but it also had just some garbage ideas
- it's just like who came about these rules it's just like these aren't streamlined these are garbage they are horrible
- the Marvel superheroes game was like the Marvel Universe
- spacehulk spacehulk spacehulk space Hulk I knew it was Warhammer I just didn't know
- it's the one where you uh you're playing as a disease trying to kill everybody take over the world it's like an AA control game
- I think it's in my top 25 or 50 games of all time
- the game just chef's kiss
- Shadows of Brimstone game and it's just like yeah doing nothing
- Brimstone is our money maker they they'll milk the dead
- it's sort of a Rog likee and I think it doesn't get enough credit
- like you're doing the same thing just longer and more tedious and more like that's that's bad
- the deluxe version of it um had a basically kind of a foil cover like as the person's casting a spell and so there's this kind of rainbow effect foil cover of like the magic that's coming up
- it was it was insane yes crazy what people go foil covers bring to the end
- the Cliffhanger game with a more compact box size streamline rule book and over a decade's worth of Polish and AATA worked in this is the ultimate edition of the classic Cliffhanger Adventure game
- the cards were tiny
- Shadows of Brimstone game and it's just like
- we couldn't get any traction we couldn't get anybody to notice the game even existed anywhere
- it was like it sold it we sold out day and a half just because it had a foil had a foil rainbow cover
- I hate those things yeah I pick every box sleeve off of every game I've ever got
- we would rather be cheated out of money than refuse a customer service request from somebody who honestly needed it
- the owner said why isn't that guy allowed in the store and they told him why and he's like it's a free country he can say whatever he wants
- I was like Rich if like quite literally Rich you should just tell people that I will be there and that will get more people to come in and and sell stuff and I and give me the table for free
- I don't make anything so what's the point of
- I don't have to pay $5 just so sit at a [ __ ] table now
- we're not coming here anymore you come to my house for board game night that's it
- well how about you buy it and when you're done with it bring it back to me and I'll give you the money back minus five bucks
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video GS-SsFY2RuU
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 20:21 sentiment: negative
video_pk 86147 · mention_pk 222169
Click to watch at 20:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
- Considered too political for a 'no politics weekend'
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Playing without Val I mean like the moment you play with Valhalla that's the moment you realize I will never not play with balla
- it is now I believe in my top 30 games of all time
- it's not a looker I mean it's just cards a board
- worst demo of any game ever with that ascendency game
- the rakugan game that's B based in uh the l5r universe
- Roller ball is an incoherent mess a jumble of footage in search of plot meaning Rhythm and sense
- I'm this close to a North American cable deal
- Roller ball has a scene where they they have to all her night vision goggles yeah but but it's like but for you know but for whatever Reon I forget the exact reason is but then the camera goes into the night vision look you know so you can see where the night vision but then they take off their night vision goggles but you continue in the night vision look
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ElKuQxHyueM
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 31:12 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 86203 · mention_pk 222418
Click to watch at 31:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Excellent paper money
Cons
- Long turns
- Difficulty planning turns
- Game is too long
Thematic elements
- Political campaigning
Comparison games
- Mata
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players take cards and use them to build locations on the board.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I don't know I'm not loving it.
- It seems it seems like a little bit of a game of chicken.
- I found that mechanism interesting so if like if that mechanism was in a game that I found more compelling.
- It's good, it's good enough for the show, it's it gives it like a nice little logic puzzle.
- It has a ton of game.
- My character was getting developed, I was getting all kinds of cool stuff to do.
- I thought it was cool.
- The rule book is good but you want I for some reason I was like annoyed with the real book.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video bjIEf60vxMI
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Top List at 5:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86064 · mention_pk 221920
Click to watch at 5:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Great educational tool for the Electoral College
- Abstracts political issues making it apolitical
- Lots of fun with six people and role-playing
Cons
- Can bring up certain topics that might concern some players.
Thematic elements
- Running for president
- United States Electoral College
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Gaining voters in different states.
- Political simulation — Simulates the US Electoral College process.
- Resource Management — Fundraising to gain votes.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is such a hilarious game we've been playing this for years with our daughters and I don't think we've ever played a game where there's not laughing happening
- the mechanisms are board gamey kind of mechanisms but the atmosphere of it is very much of a party
- This is one of those games that I think I am always in the mood for
- my whole thing with games I'm just going to let let you know this in this video in case you didn't already know is I don't really care if I win and lose as long as I'm able to accomplish something
- Season 2 was really interesting cuz you um you don't realize what had happened until about Midway through the game there's big plot twist
- I don't know how you play test things like this like how do you do it to make it so where when people play this game you know they're going to do these things so these things get revealed this way it's incredible
- one of the things I really liked about this game is how seamless the turns War it turns were it just happens
- it is crazy fun and crazy stressful but like that fun stressful cuz it's all in real time
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0A8-dO-A7Nw
Ryan and Bethany board game reviews Top List at 12:46 sentiment: positive
video_pk 69782 · mention_pk 166495
Click to watch at 12:46 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Well-matched theme and mechanics
- Educational and approachable
Cons
- Long play time; not ideal for short family gatherings
Thematic elements
- electoral strategy and campaigning
- United States electoral politics
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — state bars swing based on votes and fundraising
- area/area control with bars — state bars swing based on votes and fundraising
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a fantastic party game it's very very accessible
- Cooperative games work really well when you're trying to introduce new mechanisms to people
- Seven Wonders is such a great year it's a classic practically
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0nK_BlKITFM
Discussion at 13:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 69595 · mention_pk 166174
Click to watch at 13:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Sold out of copies
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the convention changes so you don't kind of notice at that old Wes tale idea that if you put a frog in water and slowly turn up the heat it doesn't notice the change and it dies
- I feel like I'm able to like condense a a hourlong game into a one minute this is how the game works and this is why you may or may not like it
- There's so many board games coming out right now that people can't keep track of
- Thousands of people coming into the hobby all the time um that means that I'll have a job because there's stuff we can make right
- I did my how do you prep for Gen Con hydrate and stuff which is stuff I did but like taking vitamin C tablets or emergency I did that every single day and I came home with no conrod
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video t-ZLgzMJhNI
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Top List at 1:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 62355 · mention_pk 154882
Click to watch at 1:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Educational insight into the Electoral College
- Clear demonstration of math-driven campaigning
Cons
- Long playtime; requires time commitment
Thematic elements
- electoral strategy and state-focused campaigning
- American presidential election
- educational political simulation
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- electoral math — Players navigate states to accumulate electoral votes and win the election.
- state-by-state strategy — Players allocate efforts to states to maximize electoral votes and win the election.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The action selection and so whatever action you choose when it's your turn to choose everybody else also gets to take that action just on a lesser scale.
- the two player variant of this is perfection it gives you the exact same feel of a higher player count
- it's tight there's not a lot of time to do all the things that you need to do
- it's all about the math and it's all about the area control
- this game just stole the show on the drive home
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qnqJrnonqDQ
TheGameBoyGeek - Hi Quality Hi Energy Board Game Reviews Top 100 List at 19:42
video_pk 41371 · mention_pk 125491
Click to watch at 19:42 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Power Grid: it's mathy, it's spatial, it's been around forever.
- Dead Last is great. Goes up to 12 players.
- Carcassonne is a classic.
- This is a game where you're criminals and you've worked together on a heist, but now you're trying to screw each other over.
- Gatsby is a very tactical, in-your-face meme game.
- Piñata has the different lanes that you're playing for.
- Suburbia is an economic game you can lose yourself in building cities.
- Miyabi is a three-dimensional tile-laying game—brain burner but brilliantly designed.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video uYNVXp6Q-PA
BoardGameCo Discussion at 6:42 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3114 · mention_pk 9118
Click to watch at 6:42 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Acquired at BAXON
- Viewer encouragement to play
Cons
- Still unplayed despite encouragement
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I know the games I play. I know the games I love to play. And I know the games that I theoretically want to play but don't actually play.
- I need at least one of those two things in play - either high personal interest or good reputation
- Designers, reviewers, other people mentioned
- I'm going to be trying to be more mindful about reality as opposed to the desires that I have
- These tend to be less of a priority. Like occasionally I dive into an unplayed game that isn't a review copy, but more often than not if I'm diving into an unplayed game, review copies do take precedence
- I have so many euros I love and so many that I'm behind on
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5Kry7ELGvsw
Before You Play Top List at 12:37 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3112 · mention_pk 9067
Click to watch at 12:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fun team dynamic and engaging debates
- strong interaction and negotiation during turns
Cons
- political theming can be polarizing for some groups
- rules can feel dense for casual players
Thematic elements
- democracy, campaigning, and alliance-building in a four-party system
- US presidential election in a political area-control framework
- team-based, debate-driven
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — players vie for geographic influence across states via voting power and positioning
- Hand Management — card play and debates shape what you can do next and when you can act
- Team coordination — two-player teams cooperate to manipulate the map and topics
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's basically discussing our top 10 games that were new to us in 2022
- this is like a podcast today
- Weather Machine ... would have made this list if it came out this year
- it's a pure Euro for sure through and through
- hirelings ... game changer for the two-player Root
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–15 of 15