My top 10 route/network games 1. Brass: Birmingham - I like the added considerations of how you place your beer with reference to the network vs opponents beer. 2. Brass: Lancashire - Same as the other Brass but I like the new one a little better. 3. Power Grid - Love the network building in this game and considering connection costs. 4. Steam/Age of Steam - I've only played the app version of this but I super enjoy it and I am excited for the kickstarter version. 5. Yokohama - Making sure you have routes and alternate routes around opponents and what action you are going to do next is great in this game. 6. Istanbul - Isn't listed on route building but is one of the first ones I thought of, you very specifically build routes of assistants from one action tile to another. 7. Myrmes - Will probably be higher on my list with more plays of it but I love the route building of pheromone paths around the upper levels. 8. Via Nebula - Has shared route building in a competitive game and it is somewhat like Brass, in that you want people to use up the resources you've placed on the board but at the same time want some of them to be available for your own use. 9. Karuba - It's been a little while since I've played this one but you need to build the most efficient path through a forest and being able to share a route with multiple of your different workers and a little push your luck make this light game shine. 10. Terra Mystica/Gaia Project/Clans of Caledonia - I consider the network building somewhat minor in these games, but like Jamey said, it is very important to consider for end game scoring.
I love the route building in all the 18xx games. They're long games though so I don't get to play them often enough to name any specific ones. I like how you build track and then also have to plan how to run your trains on them. I know many people like this series for the stock game, but for me, I love the track building.
I love all of your choices, I would have just added Whistle Stop and Clans of Caledonia. Kingdom builder would have also been a good choice if there wasn't such randomness with the card drawing (which can be frustrating). Kingdomino/Queendomino would also be an interesting choice because you try to build a network of dominos, which is unusual. Similar to Reef where you build a network of Corals! And where is Power Grid???? ;-) Love your videos as usual!
I recently picked up Railways of the World and it's quickly become one of my favourite games. I love looking for the best links to create between cities and the most efficient routes. I get so immersed in the map. I've played Eastern US, Mexico and Canada, and they're all great, with each map feeling so different. My fave is probably Canada ... but as a Canadian I might be a tad biased...
Another Alan R Moon classic is Airlines Europe where the routes build out from the home airports & increase the stock value of the airlines in which you're trying to have majority shares. Looks great on the table with the planes across the map.
It's a little bit of a fringe pick, but my favorite network-building mechanism is in Pandemic Iberia. Possibly because knowing the base game of Pandemic makes the need for the network seem much more important and urgent than I usually feel from route-building games.
Agreed, one of the simple but really rewarding games...and the route building "twist" is really good, as you control both the route, the start and the end points and it is shared. Amazing positive interaction. Another one I think is old but amazing in it's simplicity is "Thurn und taxis".
Whistle Stop, Steamrollers, Ticket to Ride, KingdomBuilder, Brass, Auztralia....Summit was always in the back of my mind...have to check it out! Thanks 🙏🏻
Another solid list, Jamey. Though I’m somewhat surprised you didn’t include Whistle Stop. There is a ton of great competitive network-building interactions going on there. But there are a bunch of other titles I would also consider to satisfy different aspects of this list. Similar to Whistle Stop, Yamatai is another great title that has players building routes/networks that can be exploited by opponents, but it also adds a variable turn order mechanism that is crucial in helping players time building those routes when its most favorable to them. Akrotiri is also a great two-player only option to add to this list with some fantastic tile-laying decisions to building a network that your opponent is certainly going to try to exploit. Tsuro is a good one to keep in mind for a satisfying and light-hearted take-that option to add to the list. I am more in favor of the Tsuro of the Seas version to fill this role because the randomness of the dragons helps keep it more light and fun than the original version. One game that might also fit in this category, but not too obviously, is Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game. Here you are building numeric networks of areas as you race to reach specific sections of the map to claim achievements before your opponents. Franchise is one that I got the opportunity to try in last year’s PAX Unplugged, which has some great ramp-up interactions while building and cashing-in routes. This is for sure a revamped classic you should check out. I’ve not experienced this one much, but Founders of Gloomhaven is one that uses some very tense network-building mechanisms. Takenoko could be one to consider, specifically because of the irrigation element to get water to reach desired tiles. I’d also like to give a spotlight to some titles already mentioned in other comments: Railroad Ink, Steamrollers, Via Nebula. Hope I mentioned some that you hadn’t considered and want to check out in the future.
My family and I absolutely LOVE Empire Builder and its derivatives (especially Australian Rails). I highly recommend it as a crayon train game, and it's one of my favorite games of all time
A great list! I definitely have to check out Summit, one of the two games I don´t own (the other one is Railways of the World). I would add Underwater Cities, just because that´s one of my favorites at the moment :) You really have to work out how to connect your cities to get your production going, but on the other hand you always must keep in mind that you also have to feed the people there if it is connected to your first city. Great game!
I enjoy the crayon rail-building games, particularly "British Rails" and "Empire Builder" (1984 edition)...and they sound very similar to "Railways of the World" in that you are building the routes and utilizing them for goods as well, except in one you are connecting mileposts with crayon and instead of placing hexes to build routes. We gain such pleasure and pride in building great routes that winning the game nearly comes in second to accomplishing a great network. Unfortunately these crayon games are probably not being made anymore since Mayfair went under. The route-building challenges take interesting twists with the variety of versions, (Russian Rails, India Rails etc.), but British Rails and Empire Builder remain our favorites. We also very much like "Africana". It offers a simple route-planning exercise with the added aspect of collecting goods in groups to glean points by end-game. You do not build the routes, you plan your travel on them on already present routes in order to pick up goods. Planning them comes in the form of connecting the right cities to get goods which may or may not change by the time you get there. I also enjoy "Merchants of Venus" using original rules, (not Fantasy Flight new version), for the route building challenges it provides and the silly sci-fi humor sprinkled in the names and goods, but it is a lighter game than the crayon ones IMO. I agree with you on Ticket to Ride as the route building is made varied according to each man's goal. How to get from 'A' to "Z" is simply an attractive exercise in all of it's variations and a genre of gaming that is always welcome on our table.
Rajas is an interesting case. It is one of my favorite games but the route building seems minor compared to the dice as a resource, worker placement and race elements. Using Steam/Age of Steam/railways of the World as the archetype, I love the games that give me the same experience in MUCH less time :). Specifically, Whistle Stop, Steamrollers (roll and write) and to a lesser extent, Via Nebula.
Hey Jamey! Two quick questions. 1) In which part of the design process of Scythe did you decide to implement the "bonus coins" card for where you place your buildings? (For example, building adjacent to buildings score points). Even though that's not a route per se, it still suggests that the players should think where are they building their structures. Also, why does it gives so little points? I feel like it could be a more important factor in scoring. 2) Do you take notes whenever playing? I mean really writing down stuff, favorite mechanisms, etc. Or do you just chill and enjoy the game? Thanks!
my ten route building games (no order): ticket to ride power grid (I'm curious why this didn't quite make your list) factory fun Tsuro railways of the world attika railroad dice (specifically 2) Sabotage Steamrollers Transamerica I don't consider terra mystica route building, it is more area control
I thought so too at first (about Terra Mystica), but looking into the definitions of those mechanisms, it isn't area control (in area control, there's a tug of war between players for control of each territory, which isn't the case in TM). Route- and network-building is about building connections between different parts of the board, with those connections (not just control of individual territories) mattering at some point in the game, so Terra Mystica does have that mechanism.
I wish people would use area control in the tighter sense of competing to score points by dominating areas like Adrenaline or Ethnos not just games that involve controlling areas. Like say Advanced Third Reich or Small World. TM only just hits today's category IMO. The routes are just connectors that are one small element.
My top 10 route/network games
1. Brass: Birmingham - I like the added considerations of how you place your beer with reference to the network vs opponents beer.
2. Brass: Lancashire - Same as the other Brass but I like the new one a little better.
3. Power Grid - Love the network building in this game and considering connection costs.
4. Steam/Age of Steam - I've only played the app version of this but I super enjoy it and I am excited for the kickstarter version.
5. Yokohama - Making sure you have routes and alternate routes around opponents and what action you are going to do next is great in this game.
6. Istanbul - Isn't listed on route building but is one of the first ones I thought of, you very specifically build routes of assistants from one action tile to another.
7. Myrmes - Will probably be higher on my list with more plays of it but I love the route building of pheromone paths around the upper levels.
8. Via Nebula - Has shared route building in a competitive game and it is somewhat like Brass, in that you want people to use up the resources you've placed on the board but at the same time want some of them to be available for your own use.
9. Karuba - It's been a little while since I've played this one but you need to build the most efficient path through a forest and being able to share a route with multiple of your different workers and a little push your luck make this light game shine.
10. Terra Mystica/Gaia Project/Clans of Caledonia - I consider the network building somewhat minor in these games, but like Jamey said, it is very important to consider for end game scoring.
Fantastic list.
Really glad Railways of the World is getting some love!!!
I love the route building in all the 18xx games. They're long games though so I don't get to play them often enough to name any specific ones. I like how you build track and then also have to plan how to run your trains on them. I know many people like this series for the stock game, but for me, I love the track building.
I love all of your choices, I would have just added Whistle Stop and Clans of Caledonia. Kingdom builder would have also been a good choice if there wasn't such randomness with the card drawing (which can be frustrating). Kingdomino/Queendomino would also be an interesting choice because you try to build a network of dominos, which is unusual. Similar to Reef where you build a network of Corals! And where is Power Grid???? ;-) Love your videos as usual!
I recently picked up Railways of the World and it's quickly become one of my favourite games. I love looking for the best links to create between cities and the most efficient routes. I get so immersed in the map. I've played Eastern US, Mexico and Canada, and they're all great, with each map feeling so different. My fave is probably Canada ... but as a Canadian I might be a tad biased...
Another Alan R Moon classic is Airlines Europe where the routes build out from the home airports & increase the stock value of the airlines in which you're trying to have majority shares. Looks great on the table with the planes across the map.
It's a little bit of a fringe pick, but my favorite network-building mechanism is in Pandemic Iberia. Possibly because knowing the base game of Pandemic makes the need for the network seem much more important and urgent than I usually feel from route-building games.
Our current fav is Via Nebula - lovely game
I have that on my shelf and need to try it!
It had sat on mine for a while before it eventually hit the table
Agreed, one of the simple but really rewarding games...and the route building "twist" is really good, as you control both the route, the start and the end points and it is shared. Amazing positive interaction.
Another one I think is old but amazing in it's simplicity is "Thurn und taxis".
1830 1856 18ireland 1846 1861 18OE 1822 2038 Brass Brass Birmingham ;)
My favorite game is Roads and Boats, it is the best route building game in my opinion.
Whistle Stop, Steamrollers, Ticket to Ride, KingdomBuilder, Brass, Auztralia....Summit was always in the back of my mind...have to check it out! Thanks 🙏🏻
Brass, Through the Desert, Ticket to Ride, Thurn and Taxis, Glen More, Tyrants of the Underdark.
I wish I could find a copy of Thurn and Taxis.
Brass Birmingham, Age of Steam, Powergrid, London Underground...
Another solid list, Jamey. Though I’m somewhat surprised you didn’t include Whistle Stop. There is a ton of great competitive network-building interactions going on there. But there are a bunch of other titles I would also consider to satisfy different aspects of this list.
Similar to Whistle Stop, Yamatai is another great title that has players building routes/networks that can be exploited by opponents, but it also adds a variable turn order mechanism that is crucial in helping players time building those routes when its most favorable to them.
Akrotiri is also a great two-player only option to add to this list with some fantastic tile-laying decisions to building a network that your opponent is certainly going to try to exploit.
Tsuro is a good one to keep in mind for a satisfying and light-hearted take-that option to add to the list. I am more in favor of the Tsuro of the Seas version to fill this role because the randomness of the dragons helps keep it more light and fun than the original version.
One game that might also fit in this category, but not too obviously, is Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game. Here you are building numeric networks of areas as you race to reach specific sections of the map to claim achievements before your opponents.
Franchise is one that I got the opportunity to try in last year’s PAX Unplugged, which has some great ramp-up interactions while building and cashing-in routes. This is for sure a revamped classic you should check out.
I’ve not experienced this one much, but Founders of Gloomhaven is one that uses some very tense network-building mechanisms.
Takenoko could be one to consider, specifically because of the irrigation element to get water to reach desired tiles.
I’d also like to give a spotlight to some titles already mentioned in other comments: Railroad Ink, Steamrollers, Via Nebula.
Hope I mentioned some that you hadn’t considered and want to check out in the future.
I haven't played Whistle Stop.
Railroad Ink and Keyflower are excellent route builders. My number one would be Power Grid.
My family and I absolutely LOVE Empire Builder and its derivatives (especially Australian Rails). I highly recommend it as a crayon train game, and it's one of my favorite games of all time
A great list! I definitely have to check out Summit, one of the two games I don´t own (the other one is Railways of the World). I would add Underwater Cities, just because that´s one of my favorites at the moment :) You really have to work out how to connect your cities to get your production going, but on the other hand you always must keep in mind that you also have to feed the people there if it is connected to your first city. Great game!
Some folks were playing that at game night last night, and I'm eager to give it a try.
Looks like a cloudy day in St. Louis!
terra mystica is one of my fav games for sure
I enjoy the crayon rail-building games, particularly "British Rails" and "Empire Builder" (1984 edition)...and they sound very similar to "Railways of the World" in that you are building the routes and utilizing them for goods as well, except in one you are connecting mileposts with crayon and instead of placing hexes to build routes. We gain such pleasure and pride in building great routes that winning the game nearly comes in second to accomplishing a great network. Unfortunately these crayon games are probably not being made anymore since Mayfair went under. The route-building challenges take interesting twists with the variety of versions, (Russian Rails, India Rails etc.), but British Rails and Empire Builder remain our favorites.
We also very much like "Africana". It offers a simple route-planning exercise with the added aspect of collecting goods in groups to glean points by end-game. You do not build the routes, you plan your travel on them on already present routes in order to pick up goods. Planning them comes in the form of connecting the right cities to get goods which may or may not change by the time you get there.
I also enjoy "Merchants of Venus" using original rules, (not Fantasy Flight new version), for the route building challenges it provides and the silly sci-fi humor sprinkled in the names and goods, but it is a lighter game than the crayon ones IMO. I agree with you on Ticket to Ride as the route building is made varied according to each man's goal. How to get from 'A' to "Z" is simply an attractive exercise in all of it's variations and a genre of gaming that is always welcome on our table.
Power Grid is another great route/network building game!
Rajas is an interesting case. It is one of my favorite games but the route building seems minor compared to the dice as a resource, worker placement and race elements. Using Steam/Age of Steam/railways of the World as the archetype, I love the games that give me the same experience in MUCH less time :). Specifically, Whistle Stop, Steamrollers (roll and write) and to a lesser extent, Via Nebula.
The 5th T and B scenario in Catan features more of route building
Recommendations:
* PUNCT
* Maharaja (Wolfgang Kramer)
* Stephenson's Rocket
(Knizia)
* The Great Zimbabwe (Splotter)
Hey Jamey! Two quick questions. 1) In which part of the design process of Scythe did you decide to implement the "bonus coins" card for where you place your buildings? (For example, building adjacent to buildings score points). Even though that's not a route per se, it still suggests that the players should think where are they building their structures. Also, why does it gives so little points? I feel like it could be a more important factor in scoring. 2) Do you take notes whenever playing? I mean really writing down stuff, favorite mechanisms, etc. Or do you just chill and enjoy the game? Thanks!
Have you made a list of "Pick Up and Deliver" games yet? I'd like to see that!
1846 is a masterpiece
my ten route building games (no order):
ticket to ride
power grid (I'm curious why this didn't quite make your list)
factory fun
Tsuro
railways of the world
attika
railroad dice (specifically 2)
Sabotage
Steamrollers
Transamerica
I don't consider terra mystica route building, it is more area control
I thought so too at first (about Terra Mystica), but looking into the definitions of those mechanisms, it isn't area control (in area control, there's a tug of war between players for control of each territory, which isn't the case in TM). Route- and network-building is about building connections between different parts of the board, with those connections (not just control of individual territories) mattering at some point in the game, so Terra Mystica does have that mechanism.
I wish people would use area control in the tighter sense of competing to score points by dominating areas like Adrenaline or Ethnos not just games that involve controlling areas. Like say Advanced Third Reich or Small World.
TM only just hits today's category IMO. The routes are just connectors that are one small element.
Brass Lancashire!
China/Han/Web of Power/Iwari.