
- BGG rank
- BGG #320
- BGG rating
- 7.9
1830: Railways & Robber Barons
- 2–7 players
- 180–360 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 1986

Rules assistance for 1893: Cologne
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.
1893: Cologne is a board game released in 2014 for 2–4 players and 240 minutes per game. It was designed by Edwin Eckert and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Network and Route Building.
1893 is a game in the 18xx series set in the Cologne region of Germany and intended for 2-4 players. Designed by Edwin Eckert and produced by Marflow Games, 1893 contains many very distinct departures from typical 18xx game. As with most 18xx games, players will start the game with an equal sum of cash and then invest in various types of companies. Those companies will then operate and earn income for their shareholders. As technology develops, revenues increase until eventually a winner emerges as the player with the greatest personal worth (combined cash and stock portfolio value).
1893: Cologne supports 2–4 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 1893: Cologne is 240 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.
1893: Cologne has a complexity rating of 3.5 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.
1893: Cologne 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 1893: Cologne are: Edwin Eckert. 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 1893: Cologne 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.