- BGG rank
- BGG #839
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Trains
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,700
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Trains: Rising Sun
2014
Rules assistance for Trains: Rising Sun
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Trains: Rising Sun
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Trains: Rising Sun is a board game released in 2014 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Hisashi Hayashi and Steve Ellis (II) and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Network and Route Building, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
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About the game
Trains returns with all-new cards and strategies for you to build the best rail system in Japan. Trains: Rising Sun not only features all new cards, it includes three entirely new boards. Two of the boards are designed specifically for two-player games, while the Nagoya map is for 3 to 4 players. This standalone game can mix easily with the original Trains game for even greater replay possibilities! Trains: Rising Sun also introduces Route Bonus Cards, allowing you to score additional points for being the first to connect specific stations. Route Bonus Cards are included for the original Trains game as well! Finally, Trains: Rising Sun includes the Trains: Nagoya Map expansion that was first produced only by the designer for use with the original OKAZU Brand production of Trains. (This item is not linked to in the information box for database reasons.)
Designers
Publishers
- Alderac Entertainment Group
Questions and answers
Trains: Rising Sun 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 Trains: Rising Sun is 45 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 Trains: Rising Sun 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.
Trains: Rising Sun has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Trains: Rising Sun belongs to these categories: Card Game, Territory Building, and Trains. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Network and Route Building, and Deck, Bag, and Pool 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 Trains: Rising Sun are: Hisashi Hayashi and Steve Ellis (II). 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 Trains: Rising Sun 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.