
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,505
- BGG rating
- 7.5
The Grand Trunk Journey
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2020

2022
Rules assistance for The Smoky Valley
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.
The Smoky Valley is a board game released in 2022 for 2–4 players, 150–180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Claude Sirois and its main mechanics are Income, Network and Route Building, and Action Queue.
The Smoky Valley is a heavy economic and industrial development game set around the Lachine Canal, which is located in the Griffintown neighborhood in Montréal, Canada. In The Smoky Valley, you are an investor during the 19th century, contributing to the standing of Griffintown as a key industrial area in North America by building and upgrading industries, producing and transforming goods, & shipping goods abroad. Besides these activities for the good of Griffintown and your own wealth, you will also have to stimulate the development of the city to boost economic activities, provide public services, and increase the quality of life of citizens. If your actions are well received by the citizens and your popularity raises faster than your opponents, you may even become mayor of the city. This office will offer you the chance to influence the city's development for the best of your interests - as well as your citizens', of course! Do you have what it takes to be remembered as the greatest builder of The Smoky Valley?
The Smoky Valley 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 The Smoky Valley is 150–180 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 The Smoky Valley 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.
The Smoky Valley has a complexity rating of 4.2 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.
The Smoky Valley belongs to these categories: Economic, City Building, and Industry / Manufacturing. Its main mechanics are Income, Network and Route Building, and Action Queue. 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 The Smoky Valley are: Claude Sirois. 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 The Smoky Valley 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.