Rails & Rivals

Pretty fun game. Build rails, move stuff, lose money, at least they gave us bonds.

This game is actually a digital board game. Just as you can't fully grasp what's going on the first time you play a board game, but by the second or third playthrough you've got a complete handle on everything, this game is exactly like that. Think back to the first time you played Monopoly, for example. Your first time, you probably just followed the rules and played along, but over time you start developing tactics and strategies and making your moves accordingly. It's the same with Rails & Rivals: in the first few games you're just trying to grasp the mechanics, but after that you find yourself making deep strategy decisions. And that's what makes the game more and more exciting over time. My advice is to play a few rounds against the AI first to get the hang of it, then dive straight into multiplayer games with your friends. Because the real joy of board games lies in playing them with friends. ;) The tutorial in the game is quite comprehensive and instructive. It might feel a little long, but I think it's genuinely useful. Maybe a very short brief version could be added, or the rules could be presented as an in-game overlay. That way, players who don't enjoy going through tutorials (like me), or those who want to teach the game to their friends in multiplayer, could quickly skim the rules. Right now there's only one map in the game. I liked the math behind the city placements on the map, and I think that if adjustments are made based on incoming feedback, it'll turn into a much more challenging map over time. Since the game is in early access, this is perfectly normal, and more maps will surely be added down the line. As a bonus point, there's also a map editor, so you can create your own map as well. The mechanics are simple, just as much as they need to be. There are a handful of things you can do play the game: raising capital (issue bonds), laying rails, transporting goods from one city to another, upgrading your engine (locomotive), and industrializing a city. I especially loved the rail-laying mechanic, because it's an incredibly well-thought-out rail placement system within the hexagons. Very clever. I played the game before, during development for testing purposes, but this was actually my first time seeing the finished early access version. When I launched it on a 43-inch 4K screen, I let out a genuine "WOW." What I saw was beautiful, so lovely. First I wandered around the map and examined the details: the grass, the flowers, the houses... all of it beautiful. Since I know that each one was designed individually and that no pre-made assets were used, seeing the final result, with everything in such harmony, left me in awe. The game has visually delightful elements, and that adds a real pleasure just to watching it. I should mention that this is a game made by my own brother. I hope you'll still find my review fair and useful. He developed this game as an indie developer, working day and night, completely on his own. He didn't accept anyone's help or support (including mine), because he wanted every single part of the game to reflect his own taste. From what I've experienced, he's done a fantastic job. I want to congratulate him, and I'm really proud of him.