Stephenson's Rocket
Extend rail lines, buy shares and merge companies, then cash in before the last company stands.
Who it's for
You enjoy Knizia-style tile-laying with a stock-market twist and a group that likes quietly outmaneuvering each other. Best with four.
Not for you if…
You want a relaxed, friendly railroad game. The veto and merger decisions can feel pointed and mathematical.
Vibe's take
Cool-headed and calculating with a mean streak. Every move helps someone, so the question is always who and how much.
About this game
Seven rail companies race across early 1800s England on a hex map, and you own shares in several of them. On your turn you extend a line with a rail tile, but the other shareholders in that company can veto you, though a veto may cost them their shares. When two companies' tracks touch, they merge into one, which can wipe out a carefully built position or make a neglected one bloom. The game ends when only one company is left or the tiles run out, and whoever has made the most money wins. A Reiner Knizia tile-layer that plays like a stock-market brawl on rails, with a mean streak and some very sharp thinking.
Get it
Mechanics
Categories
By the numbers
Players
Duration
60–90 min
Ages 12+
Complexity
3.0 / 5 — MediumBGG Rating
6.3/10
Rank #1,757
3.3k ratings
Published
1999
Designed by
Reiner Knizia
Published by
Rio Grande Games, 999 Games, Pegasus Spiele, Group SNE, Grail Games and 1 more
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