
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,516
- BGG rating
- 8.4
The Old Prince 1871
- 3–4 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2022

2009
Rules assistance for 1886
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
1886 is a board game released in 2009 for 2–7 players and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Rhuitsu NAKAHAMA and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Network and Route Building.
An 18xx game set in the Nagoya metropolitan area of Japan. Game is free to print and play, but components are in Japanese. Files are available at the weblinks. English translation available here in the Files section.
1886 supports 2–7 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 catalogue lists 1886 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.
1886 has a complexity rating of 4.1 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.
1886 belongs to these categories: Economic, Print & Play, 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 1886 are: Rhuitsu NAKAHAMA. 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 1886 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.