- BGG rank
- BGG #839
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Trains
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,913
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Trick of the Rails
2011
Rules assistance for Trick of the Rails
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 20 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Trick of the Rails
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Trick of the Rails is a board game released in 2011 for 3–5 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Hisashi Hayashi and its main mechanics are Trick-taking, Multi-Use Cards, and Stock Holding.
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About the game
Trick of the Rails, themed on the rise of the American railway period, combines 18XX-like portfolio management and a trick-taking card game. Players collect stock certificates and make the companies more valuable by laying the rail network. The game alternates between stock rounds and operating rounds. In stock rounds, the cards played become shares for the players. In operating rounds, the cards played become track for the companies. The companies get trains, which determine how many track cards they can count for their profit (the trains have costs as well, which may lead to companies not making any profit at all) and in the end, players simply count the value of their shares and highest value wins.
Designers
Publishers
- Grok Games
- Japon Brand
- OKAZU Brand
- Terra Nova Games
- Mauá
Questions and answers
Trick of the Rails 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 Trick of the Rails is 20 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 Trick of the Rails for ages 10 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.
Trick of the Rails has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Trick of the Rails belongs to these categories: Card Game and Trains. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking, Multi-Use Cards, and Stock Holding. 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 Trick of the Rails are: Hisashi Hayashi. 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 Trick of the Rails 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.