
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,814
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Circus Train (Second Edition)
- 1–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2013

Rules assistance for Circus Train: Expansion Kit
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.
Circus Train: Expansion Kit is an expansion for Circus Train released in 2010 for 3–5 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Tom Decker and its main mechanics are Pick-up and Deliver.
The Circus Train Expansion Kit includes everything you need to expand the game to accommodate 3, 4 or even 5 players! Strategic planning is even more important as the competition can be fierce. In addition to the new rules for scoring and supporting the new players, the game also includes a new Action card for each player, a new Event card, and lots of new Talent and Performance counters. Four new special characters are also included in the Optional Rules. Note, the Circus Train Expansion Kit is not a ‘stand alone’ game. You must own a copy of Circus Train to use this expansion kit. Game Data: Complexity: 3 on a 9 scale Solitaire Suitability: 5 on a 9 scale Scale: Weekly turns; bi-monthly pay days and one performance city per turn. Game Components: • One color Rules sheet • 24 Action cards • 5 Overnight Hire cards • 1 Event card • 24 Performance counters • 3 Circus Train markers • 28 Talent counters • 6 Victory Point counters • 9 Best Performance Score counters • 3 Reputation Value counters • 3 Two Week Show markers • 10 Event card support markers
Circus Train: Expansion Kit supports 3–5 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 Circus Train: Expansion Kit is 90 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 Circus Train: Expansion Kit 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.
Circus Train: Expansion Kit has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
Circus Train: Expansion Kit belongs to these categories: Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Pick-up and Deliver. 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 Circus Train: Expansion Kit are: Tom Decker. 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 Circus Train: Expansion Kit as an expansion for Circus Train. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Circus Train to use it. Check that your edition of Circus Train is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.