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Game Info
Year
2016
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Percentile rank vs. all games
Vibe profile
How this game feels to play
Description
Ambition and a thirst for wealth have driven humanity to strive for ever greater progress. In America, during the 19th century, battles were waged between huge railway corporations that sought to connect state to state and coast with coast… making themselves filthy rich in the process. Railroad Revolution drops you straight into the middle of these tempestuous years; a time that changed America forever.
In Railroad Revolution, you will manage your own railroad company, ruthlessly competing to be the most powerful railroad tycoon across all America. You will build railroads, establish stations in your connected cities, expand the network of telegraph lines, and chase your objectives, increasing the value of your company with every action you take.
You start with mainly a team of non-specialized workers, but during the game you can hire additional ones with specific skill sets. The cost or effect of an action is determined by the type of worker that does it. To complete your company objectives, you will have to remove some of your workers from your active pool, promoting them to managerial positions. You must carefully assign each of your workers to perform the right action at the right time in order to exploit their specializations in the best way. You need to decide which ones to promote and which are instead still needed to take actions, as your priorities will change from turn to turn.
Railroad Revolution is a fast paced game with relatively simple rules, and it provides you with interesting and challenging decisions. Having a good strategy and finding the correct timing to implement it, is the key to winning the game.
Featured Videos
Rules Teach
Railroad Evolution Tutorial
Playthrough
Railroad Evolution Extended Playthrough
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 10
This page: 10
Sentiment:
pos 8 ·
mix 2 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–10 of 10
Video tG0uTH6M700
Getting Games Top 10 List at 40:58 sentiment: positive
video_pk 92118 · mention_pk 247365
Click to watch at 40:58 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- engaging action selection with a wide variety of options
- strong thematic feel of building rail networks across the US
- lots of room for strategic planning and planning ahead
Cons
- criticisms about balance and potential over-saturation of certain strategies
- some players found long decisions or late-game fatigue depending on player count
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Nippon
- Signorier
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action-selection with worker pawns — on each turn, players place a worker on one of four action spots and resolve that action.
- color-coded workers with special bonuses — colored workers (gray, purple, orange, blue) grant discounts or bonuses at certain spots.
- endgame track/stock market-like scoring for telegraph outputs — telegraph-related bonuses and shared scoring tracks influence late-game scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Lizboa definitely my number one of the convention.
- Holy bleep, that is amazing.
- I love the idea of building those tableau in front of you.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kM_JKoTpGeU
The Mill Discussion at 2:01 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91584 · mention_pk 245775
Click to watch at 2:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection using color-coded workers — you choose actions by assigning workers; workers of different colors indicate different effects depending on the chosen action
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- game names are really really important
- I encourage people, our fans, our ambassadors to do cool stuff with our games
- two times of the year where I think they might be good times for me to take vacations — Gen Con and Essen this year
- it's so easy to set up and play
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WAQsPb8sx8g
Getting Games Discussion at 12:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91203 · mention_pk 244512
Click to watch at 12:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- engine-like decisions with multiple paths to revenue and growth
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)
- Railroad Evolution is super cool and I want to play that one more
- there were many things I liked about the game and there were several things that I really didn't like about the game
- I just think brass is a better game
- the scoring for the way you put your stuff out seemed pretty illogical to me
- I really enjoyed this game
- it's like being a kid in a candy store
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video o6G9Ly4hZKs
Getting Games Impressions at 28:26 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91198 · mention_pk 244491
Click to watch at 28:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
very_positive
Pros
- expansion fixes a previous fatal flaw and significantly improves balance and flow
- dynamic, feast-style euro design with abundant choices and cascading scoring
- teaching a three-player game in under two hours is achievable
- strong thematic integration and satisfying combo potential
Cons
- expansion is not standalone and can require owning the base game
- availability and price can be barriers to adoption
Thematic elements
- economic growth and infrastructure expansion
- railroads across America with telegraph and train stations
Comparison games
- Maracaibo
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection with colored workers — players place a worker on one of four actions; once all workers are used, they wipe the board and continue; no blocking restrictions akin to previous versions
- building and connecting networks — build train stations, extend rail lines, and create telegraph networks to maximize scoring across multiple tracks
- Compound Scoring — endorsement of scoring through stations, telegraphs, and railroad areas; enhancement tokens create a cyclical benefit where actions feed into multiple scoring tracks
- dynamic scoring and synergy — endorsement of scoring through stations, telegraphs, and railroad areas; enhancement tokens create a cyclical benefit where actions feed into multiple scoring tracks
- expansion: railroad evolution — the expansion replaces the old map, changes telegraph and progress tracks, and adds enhancement tokens that modify scoring multipliers
- Network/Route Building — build train stations, extend rail lines, and create telegraph networks to maximize scoring across multiple tracks
- Worker Placement — players place a worker on one of four actions; once all workers are used, they wipe the board and continue; no blocking restrictions akin to previous versions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this work wheel is a six spoke wheel with these six different gaps in it
- that little water piece can generate power in multiple ways
- the teach was no more than 30 minutes
- one of the best 20:19 gaming experiences that I've had so far
- railroad evolution is the way the game always should have been
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Qxll9B5smo0
Getting Games Discussion at 13:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91102 · mention_pk 244182
Click to watch at 13:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
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)
- I have a really big problem with the status quo.
- I'm desperately looking for more colonialism themed games at least from the Western colonial eyes.
- Don't ruin the magic if you prefer not to but do you preset the first few turns of a playthrough so that you could better show the rules or is it all standard setup and you show the rules as they come?
- I pre stack cards like in terraforming Mars I made sure that there were cards in people's hands so that a greenery tile would go down a Sydney tile would go down an ocean would go down that every single little button could be pressed in that first generation.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Qxll9B5smo0
Getting Games Discussion at 13:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91102 · mention_pk 244183
Click to watch at 13:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
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)
- I have a really big problem with the status quo.
- I'm desperately looking for more colonialism themed games at least from the Western colonial eyes.
- Don't ruin the magic if you prefer not to but do you preset the first few turns of a playthrough so that you could better show the rules or is it all standard setup and you show the rules as they come?
- I pre stack cards like in terraforming Mars I made sure that there were cards in people's hands so that a greenery tile would go down a Sydney tile would go down an ocean would go down that every single little button could be pressed in that first generation.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video p2aEgtd5U98
Getting Games Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 63466 · mention_pk 156875
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Expansion adds rich wagon/tender mechanics that increase strategic options.
- Milestones and performance tiles provide meaningful endgame scoring paths.
- Train flips and promotions create high interaction and planning depth.
Cons
- Western Union scoring can be disappointing if not pursued.
- Endgame ending early can limit scoring opportunities for some tracks.
- Resource and money management can become tight late in the game.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deals_top_bottom — activating deal slots (top or bottom) often via shares or funds to gain workers, money, or track/build actions.
- milestones — set of objective cards that grant points when completed, guiding player strategy.
- promotions — using color-specific workers to promote and unlock abilities; affects milestones and scoring.
- recruit_from_supply — spending actions to recruit workers of various colors from the supply for future turns.
- Track Advancement — flipping trains to advance along the main track and trigger promotions and advancements.
- track_laying — laying track on mountains, plains, and various city spots to connect locations and fulfill milestones.
- train_flips — flipping trains to advance along the main track and trigger promotions and advancements.
- wagons_and_tenders (expansion) — wagon and tender tiles that modify trains, allow recruitment, promotions, or other effects when activated.
- western_union_track — a track area that provides money, shares, and potential bonuses; endgame scoring can be influenced by this area.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- playthrough for a railroad revolution
- with the railroad evolution expansion
- the game does come with a handy $1,000 token
- the endgame has been triggered again that happens once any one player has all of their pieces of wood from the left-hand side of their banner removed off of their player board
- we didn't get any points for the Western Union scoring
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Z52a9Yx70Zw
Getting Games Top List at 13:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 63415 · mention_pk 156811
Click to watch at 13:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- expansion fixes a prior flaw and enhances the depth
- open, joyful feel with big space to do cool stuff
- great balance between take-that and strategic planning
Cons
- entry barrier due to needing base game and expansion
Thematic elements
- resource management with expansive action options
- railroad expansion era / industrial infrastructure
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- end-game scoring conditions via expansion rules — customizable scoring conditions that evolve during play
- resource heavy engine-building — gather and spend resources to fuel a growing engine with multiple pathways
- token bidding — players bid with tokens on cards; highest bid takes the card; bottom/top effects provide ongoing value
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I think that the Anno system is brilliant
- the systems are just so simple there's not that many rules it's very elegant
- I can teach in like 15 minutes
- the fun value has been so high
- I have loved playing Beyond the Sun this year
- the technologies themselves really do shift the pattern of the game
- these technologies fit in with various other technologies and make one game so different from the other
- I will never be playing this game without the snake board again
- it's an amazing package, it's gorgeous
- the snake board is a much more balanced and far more fascinating experience
- this is a heavy gaming experience it's not crazy heavy but it leans on the heavy gaming experience
- this expansion has you throwing away the old board and adding a bunch of new mechanics and tokens
- I think the game is great overall
- it's a joy of a game to play
- the highs have been the highest out of any game that I've played this year
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NyHwa4rEkoo
Getting Games Rules Teach at 0:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8413 · mention_pk 24738
Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Expansion adds new board elements and mechanics (left/right tiles, side boards)
- Increased strategic depth with deals, stock management, and milestones
- Clear incentives for early expansion via first-player bonuses and flexible worker colors
- Performance tiles and rewards broaden endgame scoring options
Cons
- Increased complexity may be challenging for new players
- Longer playtime due to expanded mechanics
- Potential for analysis paralysis with many options per turn
Thematic elements
- Railroad expansion, logistics, and deal-making
- United States expansion with telegraph lines, railroad tracks, and train stations
- Tutorial narration woven with playthrough elements
Comparison games
- Railroad Evolution expansion
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Points — Promote workers onto milestone cards to earn VP; thresholds require specific worker colors and may impact future actions
- Advancement track and performance tiles — Advance along a board track to acquire performance tiles and unlock new options; tiles grant VP and special actions
- Build stations — Place stations in cities; first-player bonuses and ongoing bonuses on city-specific icons
- Endgame scoring — Points come from trains, completed milestones, Telegraph/Western Union bonuses, reward tiles, and performance tiles
- Lay tracks — Connect cities; mountains add cost; track placement supports up to four players; cannot place a second track on an occupied spot
- Milestones and promote actions — Promote workers onto milestone cards to earn VP; thresholds require specific worker colors and may impact future actions
- Rewards / reward tiles — Reward tiles provide free or discounted actions and influence future building or track placement
- Stock Holding — Collect stocks via city bonuses and Western Union actions; use stocks to pay for deals or modify actions
- Stocks and deals — Collect stocks via city bonuses and Western Union actions; use stocks to pay for deals or modify actions
- Track Advancement — Advance along a board track to acquire performance tiles and unlock new options; tiles grant VP and special actions
- Train flipping / upgrades — Flip trains between colored and gray sides to activate abilities; colored side grants endgame VP; gray side is a neutral state
- Western Union / telegraph network — Expand telegraph network for bonuses and stock-related deals; some spots require sacrificing a worker to access higher-value options
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this changes a few things compared to the base game in particular we have a new board out here
- this means we can take two stocks as a benefit for being the first player to build here
- trains are also worth eight points at the end of the game if they are on the colored side
- you are never allowed to have less than four workers
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video OqmjqZhnxLg
Getting Games Review at 0:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 8156 · mention_pk 23933
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Huge variety of options each turn and forgiving engine that allows repeated actions.
- Colored workers add depth and planning without complexity.
- Milestones guide and motivate map expansion, with multiple plausible paths.
- Two to four players and variable boards support replayability.
- Money is abundant and accessible, with multiple routes to resources via Western Union and deals.
Cons
- Western Union can dominate the scoring, reducing variation and making other strategies less appealing.
- Milestones occasionally feel luck-dependent; A2 starting milestones are imbalanced and punishing.
- The art/design aesthetics are drab, with large areas of brown; not visually compelling.
- End-game balance can feel skewed toward Western Union, reducing variety across games.
- Variability is average; board state changes exist but aren't transformative between games.
Thematic elements
- Industrial expansion, railways, telegraph, urban growth
- United States, late 19th century railroad expansion and telegraph networks
- Historical economic strategy simulation with route-building and milestone-chasing
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action selection with workers — Players place workers on four action spots to perform building, telegraph, or trade actions; workers come in color variants with specialized bonuses.
- Deals/telegraph stock economy — Deals tokens allow exchanging telegraph stock for actions or bonuses, influencing pacing and strategy.
- End-game scoring via tracks and connections — Scoring tracks along Western Union, number of stations, level five city connections, and adjacency bonuses.
- Market-like money management — Money and telegraph stock act as currency with penalties for crossing thresholds.
- Milestones deck — Milestones provide goals and can be drawn and pursued, with A, B, C, D stacks affecting end-game scoring.
- Network/Route Building — A side track where players gain stocks and bonuses by placing and connecting telegraph-related buildings.
- Railroad/Station building — Build stations and rail lines to connect cities and earn bonuses, while incurring costs.
- Trading — Deals tokens allow exchanging telegraph stock for actions or bonuses, influencing pacing and strategy.
- Trains and flipping — Trains can be flipped to gain bonuses; some flips are necessary to maximize scoring.
- variable setup — Shuffled city bonuses and Western Union tokens create different boards each game.
- Western Union network — A side track where players gain stocks and bonuses by placing and connecting telegraph-related buildings.
- Worker color bonuses — Colored workers (purple, teal, gray, orange) grant different bonuses at each action spot, adding planning depth.
- Worker Placement — Players place workers on four action spots to perform building, telegraph, or trade actions; workers come in color variants with specialized bonuses.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- there are so many different paths to think of and I often feel like I have four different great options
- this game is so good this game is so cool
- it's a very forgiving system as far as allowing you options
- the colored worker mechanic is wonderful
- the Western Union is rather strong
- I think there is a great game here that just needs a little bit of tweaking
- it's pretty disappointing that I have to dig around and try to develop that great game for myself
- I really love the decisions that come from this
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–10 of 10