- BGG rating
- 6.8
Trainmaker: Outlaws Mini Expansion
- 1–6 players
- 15 min
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,303
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Trainmaker
2012
Rules assistance for Trainmaker
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–6 players
- 15 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Trainmaker
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Trainmaker is a board game released in 2012 for 1–6 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Chris Leder and Ken Grazier and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Trainmaker is a fast-paced, press-your-luck dice game that puts players in the roles of aspiring railroad magnates building an empire! On a turn, you: Roll the custom railroad dice. Build a train using locomotive, rolling stock and caboose results. Push your luck to reroll dice, trying not to derail! Score city cards that match the train you created. If you are clever — and lucky — you can score all three city cards on your turn! Use your switch track token to manipulate a dice result, but once you use it, you lose it - so pick your moment carefully! The first player to score one of each type of city card — or complete their hidden contract card — wins!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Self-Published)
- Alderac Entertainment Group
- Grey Gnome Games
Questions and answers
Trainmaker supports 1–6 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 Trainmaker is 15 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 Trainmaker for ages 8 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.
Trainmaker has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Trainmaker belongs to these categories: Dice and Trains. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Dice Rolling. 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 Trainmaker are: Chris Leder and Ken Grazier. 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 Trainmaker 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.