In Rail Pass, 2-6 players work together to deliver as many goods as possible in ten minutes, with goods being represented by cubes and with the color of the cubes indicating their destination city.
During set-up and before the clock starts, players scramble the goods and arrange them in a row across the top of the city boards. The player controlling that city can see all the cubes that must be delivered but can pull goods only from the right or left end of the row when loading them on the trains.
Once the clock starts, all players take their actions simultaneously, in any order, and repeating any action as often as necessary. To transport cargo, a cube must first be loaded onto a short or long train piece that is at rest in the player's home city train yard. No train can move without a crew peg, and no crew peg may travel beyond the adjacent city. In order to transport cargo to more distant cities, a train needs to stop and have the crew peg swapped or cargo exchanged between trains. While all this is going on, players must avoid dropping or spilling cubes when picking up or handing the train to another player. Additional terrain components such as tunnels and bridges can be placed between cities and act as additional obstacles to negotiate. When time runs out, calculate the score by multiplying the TWO LOWEST counts of cubes delivered to a city. Points are subtracted for dropped cubes, or cubes delivered to the wrong city and also for crew pegs that traveled beyond their adjacent cities.
With six players, each takes one of the six main cities, each producing goods which are delivered to the other five locations. In some scenarios with fewer players, each player may control multiple cities.
Rail Pass Unboxing Reaction
- train-based logistics and cargo
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
- fast-paced chaos; easy to teach
- delivering goods across a network
- rail freight logistics
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cargo_dexterity — must avoid dropping or spilling cargo
- Simultaneous Actions — players take actions simultaneously in any order
- simultaneous_actions — players take actions simultaneously in any order
- train_path_chaos — cargo can be lost if a train drops or is mishandled
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- we love breakfast
- ten one minute rounds sounds easy it's not, it's a hectic chaos
- this is a push or luck game so if you take the highest number dice then you move closer to the water
References (from this video)
- Brilliant cooperative real-time puzzle
- Engaging without becoming chaotic
- Not ideal for players who dislike time pressure or dexterity tasks
- train routing and cargo management
- Real-time cooperative rail logistics
- playful, cooperative, tense but controlled
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — players work together under a real-time constraint to move trains and cargo
- dexterity/hand-management — holding and maneuvering trains without dropping or misplacing pieces
- Hand Management — holding and maneuvering trains without dropping or misplacing pieces
- Real-time cooperative play — players work together under a real-time constraint to move trains and cargo
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's fun it's fast it's got great theme
- it's just loads of fun
- Rail Pass is brilliant
- Choo choo
References (from this video)
- Unique and memorable
- Chaotic and fun
- Great convention game
- Requires saying 'toot toot' obligatorily
- Not a game to play all the time
- Delivering goods via trains.
- Train network
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — Players work together to deliver as many Goods as possible.
- dexterity — Avoid dropping or spinning cubes when picking up or handling the trains.
- Pick-Up and Deliver — Transport cargo Cube that must be first loads on to a short or long treat.
- Real-Time — When the clock starts all players take action simultaneously.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- It's a memorable visceral experience that keeps the focus on the sharp tactical space that all players inhabit.
- It's Mad Max the board game but it's it's meant to be really really fun and just frivolous nonsense in a best way possible.
- I agree was this my favorite game of 2020 yes and I would S I would Hazard to guess it still is I love the red Cathedral don't me wrong I also love the White Castle that's a great game too but the red Cathedral there's something about this game...
- Rail Pass is just a little gem it's not something I need to play all the time for sure but Al convention Rail Pass might be one of the best convention games out there.
- This is my now goto solo game I love the small package it contains five different maps and 20 different games in one small box it's completely replayable with simple rules I've become a bit exhausted with complex campaigns that take a year to finish you complete a game of this in 10 minutes.
- Cloudit is supposed to be about fighting post apocalyptic terrorist militias from the futuristic airships but honestly it felt more like we were flying from City to City raining down Death from Above until the poor land bound inhabitants surrendered their precious water to us are we the baddies does it matter as long as you're winning that's all that matters right.
- Each character plays so differently it's Cooperative yet you're doing your own thing but you have common goals to achieve.
References (from this video)
- Unique and memorable
- Chaotic and fun
- Great convention game
- Requires saying 'toot toot' obligatorily
- Not a game to play all the time
- Delivering goods via trains.
- Train network
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — Players work together to deliver as many Goods as possible.
- dexterity — Avoid dropping or spinning cubes when picking up or handling the trains.
- Pick-Up and Deliver — Transport cargo Cube that must be first loads on to a short or long treat.
- Real-Time — When the clock starts all players take action simultaneously.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- It's a memorable visceral experience that keeps the focus on the sharp tactical space that all players inhabit.
- It's Mad Max the board game but it's it's meant to be really really fun and just frivolous nonsense in a best way possible.
- I agree was this my favorite game of 2020 yes and I would S I would Hazard to guess it still is I love the red Cathedral don't me wrong I also love the White Castle that's a great game too but the red Cathedral there's something about this game...
- Rail Pass is just a little gem it's not something I need to play all the time for sure but Al convention Rail Pass might be one of the best convention games out there.
- This is my now goto solo game I love the small package it contains five different maps and 20 different games in one small box it's completely replayable with simple rules I've become a bit exhausted with complex campaigns that take a year to finish you complete a game of this in 10 minutes.
- Cloudit is supposed to be about fighting post apocalyptic terrorist militias from the futuristic airships but honestly it felt more like we were flying from City to City raining down Death from Above until the poor land bound inhabitants surrendered their precious water to us are we the baddies does it matter as long as you're winning that's all that matters right.
- Each character plays so differently it's Cooperative yet you're doing your own thing but you have common goals to achieve.
References (from this video)
- Unique components and concept
- Engaging physicality
- Host does not enjoy real-time or dexterity games
- Text-heavy rulebook
- Train delivery
- Escape: Curse of the Temple
- Space Lair
- Tokyo Highway
- Maple Circus
- Animal on Animal
- 9 Times Panic
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play — Players work together to achieve a common goal within a time limit.
- dexterity — Physical skill is required to manipulate components, specifically moving trains loaded with cubes.
- Pick-Up and Deliver — Players load trains with cubes and deliver them to other players' boards, and then unload cubes.
- Real-Time — The game has a strict time limit (10 minutes mentioned) in which players must complete their objectives.
- Route Building — Players construct a layout with bridges and tunnels, and 'do not pass' areas restrict movement between certain points.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a cooperative real-time dexterity game
- physicality matters and if you mess up your physicality as I often do in these types of games then you're shot you're sunk
- this is a game where a lot of the pieces are completely unique
- I challenge you to do that because I don't think that you'll be able to
- we're celebrating a big a crazy exciting milestone if you check the subscriber count on the channel right now it will be hopefully at least nine thousand people
References (from this video)
- Tense, fast-paced gameplay
- Team-based or solo puzzle-like execution
- Some players may prefer more direct interaction
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- simultaneous action selection / route planning — A quick, tense game about delivering goods while planning route efficiency under time pressure.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- "Letter Jam really looks like it's one that could hit the spot as one of the reasons why it's on my list to check out at GenCon"
- "this video actually has 200% as many references to Kenny G as the last video did"
- "If you're a fan of trying to do absolutely everything at once until you break down and cry real tears you may want to give Rail Pass a try"
References (from this video)
- short playtime (about 10 minutes)
- high interaction and chaos that sparks laughter
- easy teach for six players
- talk is restricted; can mute conversation for some groups
- weak link at the table can be a strategic flaw
- logistics and teamwork
- railway cargo delivery in a cooperative real-time system
- compact, brisk, real-time
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — players pass cargo via trains without verbal communication; timing is key
- cooperative real-time puzzle — players pass cargo via trains without verbal communication; timing is key
- pass-and-deliver cargo — use two trains and passes to move cargo quickly
- Pick-Up and Deliver — use two trains and passes to move cargo quickly
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's literally a 10-minute game and it is real time and it's cooperative.
- accommodate a variety of gamers. I've got some light gamers, some casual gamers, some gamers that are more like me and my husband.
- This is my ideal game night. I have not necessarily taken into consideration the favorites of my friends and their mechanics, but for me, real time games are where it's at.