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Metro X

Game ID: GID0208188
Collection Status
Description

In MetroX, players create subway networks by filling in the station spaces on their individual game sheets. Using the numbers revealed by the cards, all players fill up their subway map with ◯s in the station spaces. However, the number of times they can add stations to each line is limited, so they have to make tough choices. Players can score many points by getting their star bonuses in stations with many intersecting routes. Players also get bonuses by being the first to complete routes. Try to fill in all your stations to minimize the penalties and achieve a high score!

In more detail, each player has their own sheet of paper, with all players using either the Tokyo or Osaka map. Each sheet shows an interwoven subway system, with the system consisting of many subway lines; each line has a name, a number of indicator boxes, a number of empty station boxes on the subway route, and two bonuses. On a turn, a player reveals the top indicator card from the deck of twenty cards, then each player individually and simultaneously chooses a subway line, then does something depending on which type of card is revealed:

If a number is revealed, the player writes the number in one of that line's indicator boxes, then draws a ◯ in each box in the line starting with the closest empty box, stopping when they've reached the end of the line, reached an already filled-in space, or drawn the indicated number of ◯s.
If a circled number is revealed, the player does what is described above, but they can skip over already filled-in spaces instead of stopping.
If a star is revealed, the player draws a star in one of that line's indicator boxes, then in the closest empty space on that line they write a number equal to double the number of lines that pass through that station box.
If a circle is revealed, the player writes nothing in an indicator box and draws a ◯ in any empty station box.

At the end of a turn, if a player has finished a subway line by reaching the final space, they announce this to all players, then score the larger of the two bonuses for this line; all other players cross out the large bonus and can score the small bonus for themselves if they complete this line later. Multiple players can score a line's bonus on the same turn. If the indicator card has a shuffle icon on it, shuffle all of the indicator cards together before the next turn.

Once all the indicator boxes are filled, the game ends. Players tally their points scored for completing lines and for writing numbers in boxes, then lose points based on the number of empty spaces that remain on their sheet. Whoever has the highest score wins!

Year Published
2018
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 5
This page: 5
Sentiment: pos 4 · mix 0 · neu 0 · neg 0
Mentions per page
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Showing 1–5 of 5
Video BwZ7Z645Zks Beyond Solitaire playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13289 · mention_pk 38953
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Easy to teach and quick to learn
  • High portability and classroom-friendly
  • Strong solo puzzle experience with meaningful decisions
  • Good variability and fun interaction between lines through intersections
Cons
  • Price can be high given it’s a Japanese import
  • Outcomes can feel luck-dependent due to deck randomness
  • Not all lines are always finishable in a single run
Thematic elements
  • urban transit planning, routing and area control through line completion
  • Urban Tokyo subway network mapping and exploratory light puzzle
  • instructional, instructional-demo/puzzle-solving narration during solo run
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Blocking and intersections — Placing numbers blocks future progress; lines intersect and restrict where later numbers can go.
  • Card draw and value placement — Flip cards to reveal a numerical value and place it on a line's spaces; limited placement options per line.
  • Deck reshuffle on six — Drawing a six triggers reshuffling of the draw deck, altering future options and pacing.
  • Indicator spaces and line constraints — Each subway line has a fixed set of indicator spaces that constrain how many numbers can be placed on that line.
  • Line completion and scoring (solo vs multi-player) — First player to finish a line scores higher in multiplayer; in solo mode, the highest total score is the goal irrespective of order.
  • Skip and free spaces — Some cards allow skipping past already-filled spaces; a 'free' space lets you place without consuming an indicator space.
  • Star scoring at intersections — Star cards/positions grant bonus points based on the number of lines that pass through the star space.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Metro X is super enjoyable it's so easy to teach it's so easy to play you can take it to a restaurant you can play it at lunch in your classroom which I do often with students now it's just a really fun portable game the only thing that it's not sadly is cheap because it is a Japanese import so it's gonna cost you if you want a copy but other than that is an awesome game I've never had a dull moment with it and I highly recommend it for solo play so happy gaming
  • this is the best game of Metro X I have ever played I'm so glad I caught this on camera holy crap
  • I normally score like in the low 30s
  • if I can ever break 50 it means that I'm either a genius or I have unspeakably good luck
  • Happy gaming
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kRtFqz3DIFw Might I Suggest top_10_list at 1:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12908 · mention_pk 37754
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Appears in his month-to-month recap as part of his played games
  • Contributes to the sense of variety in a single month
Cons
  • Limited detail in the narrative for this particular game in the recap
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Code Names
  • Werewolf
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • zia is chaotic it's exciting it's cruel it's beautiful and it's everything in between
  • if you want to make the most out of your four and a half hour gaming window and you want a robust deep space experience
  • it's labeling it a green legacy game and promising a full reset at campaign end
  • this has been a mind at suggested game production and i'm alex your board game sommelier signing off
  • Sonora is a combination of a dexterity and a roll and write game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video src84T3EnZo Might I Suggest a Game top_10_list at 0:04 sentiment: other
video_pk 9655 · mention_pk 28511
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Overall sentiment (raw)
Excellent compact alternative to Ticket to Ride
Pros
  • Portable whiteboard game
  • Uses markers instead of pieces
  • Equal opportunity for all players
  • No specific color dependency
  • Can be played on trains
  • Solves the choking hazard problem
  • Maintains core Ticket to Ride appeal
Cons
  • Slightly different gameplay than Ticket to Ride
  • May not appeal to everyone seeking exact TTR replacement
Thematic elements
  • Subway system creation
  • Urban transportation
  • Route junctions and crossings
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Saying that Catan is the best game out there is like saying a 95 Camry is the best car ever - sure it set the standard in its day but things have progressed since then
  • Are you looking to take your game collection to the next level?
  • The castles of burgundy is the perfect next step for someone who's out there wondering if there's more to life than Catan
  • Metro X is a much smaller and much lighter game that carries the joy of Ticket to Ride in a package you could bring on an actual train and enjoy
  • That's Pretty Clever feels like if Yahtzee had an older brother that went to college got his degree and didn't develop a gambling addiction
  • Hive is just the right amount of abstract thinking to feel like a challenge while still being fun
  • Picture Perfect has those elements of Clue that have made it a staple for so many years - it cranks the deduction all the way up to 11
  • When was the last time you made it to the end of a game of Trivial Pursuit without either cheating or giving up or throwing the game?
  • Half Truth is a trivia game the way it's meant to be played - it's quick, it's fun, and it doesn't punish you too hard if you don't know something
  • If your clue giver has any form of analysis paralysis at all then you might as well pick up a new hobby because you're going to be waiting forever
  • So Clover is low stakes, it's quick, it's really easy to teach and you still get all the fun of hidden clues and word association
  • You still get that Scrabble satisfaction of making the perfect word but it's in a time frame that's incredibly manageable
  • The Crew takes the classic trick taking game formula and adds just enough of that special sauce to make it one of the most accessible and most fun games
  • There are better games out there, there are way better games out there that fit those criteria and don't make your grandma cringe
  • Monikers is a perfect party game that's super easy to learn and leads to a ton of memorable moments
  • I'm a board game sommelier
  • I hope this list gives you some ideas on what to give or what to ask for this holiday season
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ivDqSBG-LDM might i suggest a game vacation_game_discussion at 8:16 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6604 · mention_pk 19595
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • extremely portable and adaptable to many spaces
  • simple rulebook and quick pace
Cons
  • max players limited to six
  • not always obvious how to maximize scoring without the full context
Thematic elements
  • abstract route-creation / urban mapping
  • versatile urban-themed play field using a whiteboard
  • lightweight and flexible for multiple environments
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Portable/versatile play spaces — Designed to be playable anywhere (floor, couch, patio, etc.).
  • Whiteboard/dry erase play — Play uses a dry-erase board and pen for tracking progress.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • there's always room for family
  • Magic the gathering is a living game and the amount of cards and abilities is always growing
  • Fuse is a real time cooperative dice game
  • the twist is the game has a strict 10 minute timer
  • Werewords is a really simple game but the cool crossover between social deduction and word game
  • Concept is a game that i hadn't played for a few years maybe but when we first got it it was one of my favorite games
  • Cartographers is another one of those games that's really compact and you don't need much to learn it and start making your map
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dM9iZCULFg4 Might I Suggest top_10_list at 9:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1203 · mention_pk 3491
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Click to watch at 9:20
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • High variation with simple core mechanics
  • Short playtime with tight decisions
  • Strong mix of skill and luck
Cons
  • Some players may want more depth per session
  • Compact footprint may limit interaction
Thematic elements
  • Efficient transit network design
  • Urban subway planning through a flip-and-write format
  • pragmatic, puzzle-driven
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Flip and Write — Flip cards to reveal actions and write on boards to optimize routes.
  • Strategic planning — Think ahead to maximize efficiency and scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • i'll be doing a giveaway on my instagram page of the number one game at the end of this list
  • i'll also be running a fundraiser to support the stop asian hate cause
  • donation would mean the world to me if you'd donate and it might also earn you a few extra entries into the giveaway
  • thanks so much for sticking around to the end
  • yokohama is truly a gamer's game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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