Metro (board game)

Metro is a board game by Dirk Henn, for 2 to 6 players.

Metro
A three-player game of Metro in the middle of play.
Designer(s)Dirk Henn
Illustrator(s)Franz Vohwinkel
Publisher(s)db-Spiele (1997),
Queen Games (2000),
Tactic,
Überplay
Publication date1997, 2000
Players2–6
Setup time5 minutes
Playing time45 minutes
Random chancelow
Skill(s) requiredroute planning

Queen Games produced the game in 2000 after Henn had published it as Iron Horse in the company db-Spiele in 1997.

The game was nominated in the Spiel des Jahres awards in 2000 and was one of the finalists in the Gamers Choice Award in 2001. It was also awarded the Mensa Select award in 2001.

Contents
  • 1 foldable game board
  • 60 track tiles
  • 6 overview boards in various player colours
  • 61 metro trains
  • 6 score counters
  • 1 rulebook

Rules
A four-player game of Metro being played in the Czech Republic in 2008.

Background

The players take the role of metro track designers who are building the Paris Metro in 1898 to be opened in the World Fair 1900.

Game board

The game board is square and consists of 10×10 places, of which the four corners remain free. The squares on the edges between the corners represent metro stations, of which each player is assigned a certain number. Connecting these stations with metro tracks earns points; the 2×2 place square in the middle represents the main stations, connecting to which earns double points. The 60 remaining squares are free to build tracks onto.

Objective

The objective of the game is to build as long track connections between metro stations as possible. Each track connection earns points, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Course of the game

The players take turns. The current player takes a track tile face down at random. The player then has a choice between placing the tile on the board or taking another tile, which they must then place on the board. If the tile placed completes one or more metro train tracks, these are scored. The turn then ends.

End of the game

The game ends when all stations have been connected with metro tracks.

Variations

The game can be varied by replacing the initial quite large random chance with strategy. This is done by allowing rotation of the tiles, which is not allowed in the basic game. Another variation is to give each player a specific number of tiles in their hand, so the players have a better chance to plan their routes in advance.

Cable Car

In 2009, Queen Games published the game San Francisco Cable Car based on Metro and Iron Horse; The setting was changed and more variations in developing businesses were added. In this variation the colours do not correspond to the players. Instead, players buy stock of metro companies (colours). The players then earn points based on the amount of stock they own in the businesses.

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