Empire Builder
Draw railroads across North America with crayons, then haul goods along them for profit.
Who it's for
You love trains, maps and slow, economy-minded route planning, and you have most of an afternoon free. Three players is the sweet spot.
Not for you if…
You want quick turns or lots of excitement. This is a long game and the pace is gentle.
Vibe's take
Slow-burning and thoughtful, with long stretches of quiet planning. The thrill is in spotting a great route before anyone else.
About this game
Railroading with crayons. You draw your own routes on a map of North America using washable crayons, then run your train along the lines you've drawn, picking up cargo where it's grown, mined, or made and delivering it to cities that want it. Each delivery pays, and the money buys bigger, faster trains and funds more track. It's the flagship of Mayfair's crayon-rail line, and the game is a long, steady race to build the best-connected network, with everyone slowly converging on the same lucrative cities. Expect lots of map-staring, quiet plotting, and the satisfaction of a hand-drawn empire. It is a classic of its kind, with all the slow patience that implies.
Get it
Mechanics
Categories
By the numbers
Players
Duration
180 min
Ages 10+
Complexity
2.6 / 5 — MediumBGG Rating
6.3/10
Rank #2,020
3.1k ratings
Published
1982
Language
Some text
Designed by
Bill Fawcett, Darwin Bromley
Published by
Mayfair Games
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