
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,151
- BGG rating
- 7.8
1848: Australia
- 3–6 players
- 200–240 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2007

Rules assistance for 18??
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
18?? is an expansion for 1870: Railroading Across the Trans Mississippi from 1870 released in 2012 for 2–6 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Allen Sliwinski and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Network and Route Building, and Stock Holding.
18?? is an 1870 variant with a new map, a large selection of private companies, and some major rule changes designed to make each game play differently. The base 1870 game rules are used. The game kit includes a summary of rules differences from 1870. The private companies vary game-to-game and players choose their company's starting city when a company opens. A copy of 1870 is needed to play 18?? because the kits only include the new parts.
18?? supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for 18?? is 360 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 18?? for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
18?? has a complexity rating of 3.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
18?? belongs to these categories: Economic and Trains. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Network and Route Building, and Stock Holding. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 18?? are: Allen Sliwinski. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 18?? as an expansion for 1870: Railroading Across the Trans Mississippi from 1870. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need 1870: Railroading Across the Trans Mississippi from 1870 to use it. Check that your edition of 1870: Railroading Across the Trans Mississippi from 1870 is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.