- BGG rank
- BGG #3,146
- BGG rating
- 7.9
1880: China
- 3–7 players
- 300 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,177
- BGG rating
- 7.8
1844/1854
2016
Rules assistance for 1844/1854
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–7 players
- 300 min
- 12+
- Complexity 4.4/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for 1844/1854
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
1844/1854 is a board game released in 2016 for 3–7 players, 300 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Leonhard "Lonny" Orgler and Helmut Ohley and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Network and Route Building.
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About the game
The railway history of both Switzerland and Austria can be explored in 1844/1854, two previously self-published designs — both based on the 1829 (aka 18xx) game system created by Francis Tresham — that have been thoroughly revised for this new edition. In 1844, set in Switzerland, the challenge lies in running different types of businesses: Local railway companies, which merged at that time to form SBB, and national historical railroads require different decisions and support different strategies. Many companies have a destination station and receive a large part of their working capital only if they have connected this station to their route network. The game also features mountain railways, tunnels, private companies and two different types of locomotives, providing for lots of variation for railway enthusiasts and lovers of complex games. A special feature of 1854, set in Austria, is located in the stock split, which comes into play in the additional shares. As in 1844, there are mergers of companies, two types of locomotives, tunnels, mountain railways, and private companies. In addition, some private companies operate on a separate game board depicting the Steyr region.
Designers
Publishers
- Mayfair Games
- Lookout Games
Questions and answers
1844/1854 supports 3–7 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 1844/1854 is 300 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 1844/1854 for ages 12 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.
1844/1854 has a complexity rating of 4.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
1844/1854 belongs to these categories: Economic and Trains. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Network and Route Building. 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 1844/1854 are: Leonhard "Lonny" Orgler and Helmut Ohley. 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 1844/1854 as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.