Steam: Rails to Riches

About

Steam: Rails to Riches is a digital board game about railroad companies' expansion across 19th-century America. Players build tracks, develop towns, and transport goods to gain victory points. The game features strategic gameplay, dynamic auctions, and negotiation, making it a must-try for board game enthusiasts.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews

stability3 negative mentions

Great implementation of the board game with solid gameplay mechanics.
Fun and strategic, offering a good challenge even for experienced players.
Decent graphics and a clean interface, making it enjoyable to play.

The game is plagued by bugs and glitches, making it difficult to play consistently.
Limited multiplayer options and lack of AI in online games restrict gameplay variety.
The tutorial is insufficient and the interface can be confusing, leading to a steep learning curve.

gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay is praised for its engaging mechanics and appealing graphics, offering deep strategic decisions within a simple framework. However, the tutorial is criticized for being insufficient in teaching newcomers the game mechanics, which may hinder initial understanding. Overall, while the game benefits from a streamlined digital adaptation, players may need several playthroughs to fully grasp its complexities.
- “Amazing gameplay.”
- “Nice graphics and good board game mechanics.”
- “Pros: hex tiles (always appealing); deep decisions with a simple premise (i.e., good mechanics design); stable; clean and simple interface; AI so far seems pretty ruthless and has clearly schooled me on easy.”
- “I've never played the board game, but the tutorial was nowhere near the standard it needs to be in order to introduce newcomers to the game mechanics.”
- “I played the tutorial many times (it is very short) and didn't understand a lot of even the basic gameplay.”
- “Also, I like digital adaptations of board games because they are used to streamline the gameplay by removing unnecessary manual steps, but that isn't much true for this game.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting frequent bugs and glitches that often prevent completion. Many reviewers advise against purchasing due to these persistent problems.
- “Buggy, glitchy, and the game is impossible to finish half the time.”
- “Don't waste your time or money on this buggy pile of garbage or its DLC.”
- “There are also some glitches.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The graphics are praised for their quality, complementing the solid board game mechanics. Additionally, the visuals closely resemble those of the classic version, maintaining a familiar aesthetic for returning players.
- “The graphics are stunning and enhance the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The visuals are beautifully designed, making the game immersive and engaging.”
- “The artwork is vibrant and adds a unique charm to the game.”
- “The graphics are almost identical to the classic version.”
- “The visuals feel outdated and lack any significant improvement.”
- “The art style is uninspired and doesn't bring anything new to the table.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game has very low replayability, likened to the repetitive nature of a children's game, suggesting that players may quickly lose interest after a few rounds.
- “It's as replayable as a game of ring around the rosy.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, resembling that of a cash grab typically found in free-to-play games.
- “This is something I would expect from a cash grab, free-to-play game.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for providing strategic decision-making opportunities while avoiding tediousness, making it an engaging experience.