- BGG rating
- 8.8
Union Stockyards: Westward Expansion
- 1–5 players
- 60–120 min
- 2027
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,352
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Union Stockyards
2023
Rules assistance for Union Stockyards
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 45–90 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Union Stockyards
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Union Stockyards is a board game released in 2023 for 2–5 players, 45–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Duane Wulf and its main mechanics are Variable Set-up, End Game Bonuses, and Events.
Expansions
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #882
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Arkwright
- 1–4 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 4.6/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,028
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Crude: The Oil Game
- 2–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 1974
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,963
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Terminus
- 1–5 players
- 90–180 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #106
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Galactic Cruise
- 1–4 players
- 90–150 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #183
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Parks
- 1–5 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #380
- BGG rating
- 7.7
The Manhattan Project: Energy Empire
- 1–5 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #310
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Hallertau
- 1–4 players
- 50–140 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #113
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Teotihuacan: City of Gods
- 1–4 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,886
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Shogun no Katana
- 1–4 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,030
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Caylus 1303
- 2–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,053
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Parks (Second Edition)
- 1–5 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #63
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Anachrony
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2017
About the game
Union Stockyards is a mid-weight economic euro game with unique features: A supply/demand driven market that is central to game play, not a sidebar. Low randomness -- market changes due to player decisions. A worker-placement game where your workers may go on strike. Extensively-researched historical theme about one of the great industrial wonders of U.S. Gilded Age. Opening in 1865, the Union Stockyards became Chicago’s largest industry and one of the city’s top tourist attractions with a half million visitors annually in the early 1900’s. From the Civil War through the 1920’s, more meat was processed here than anywhere in the world. During its height, 40,000 mostly immigrant workers labored in “the busiest square mile on earth”, where over one million livestock passed monthly, supplying 80% of all U.S. meat. There were over 2,300 livestock pens and 130 miles of railroad within the “yards”. You play one the “Big Five” meat packers, developing technologies to use every part of the animal while battling labor unions and manipulating the market to your advantage. Union Stockyards is played over six years (rounds), each beginning with an historical event affecting game conditions or adding an additional action. You select your actions through worker placement; however, if you don’t pay your workers enough, they may go on “strike”. You earn cash based on your profit margins when you slaughter cattle, hogs, or sheep. Your profit margin is your meat value minus the livestock cost. The livestock cost is the same for all players, but your meat values will differ due to your engine-building decisions of constructing buildings, establishing branch houses in eastern cities, and improving your brand reputation. At the end of each year, livestock costs (cattle, hogs, sheep) will be adjusted up or down depending on the demand that you created. Sometimes you may choose to slaughter certain livestock just to manipulate the market in your favor. Whichever packer accumulates the most wealth wins the game.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Maldito Games
- Solid Rock Games
Questions and answers
Union Stockyards supports 2–5 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 Union Stockyards is 45–90 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 Union Stockyards for ages 14 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.
Union Stockyards 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.
Union Stockyards belongs to these categories: Animals, Economic, and Industry / Manufacturing. Its main mechanics are Variable Set-up, End Game Bonuses, and Events. 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 Union Stockyards are: Duane Wulf. 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 Union Stockyards 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.