Age of Steam (2002)

“Age of Steam is one of the sharpest board games I’ve ever played. However, if you have enjoyed some of Martin Wallace’s games like Brass: Lancashire or Brass: Birmingham, then you owe it to yourself to try it out.”

Rhys considers Age of Steam to be an exceptional and highly recommended board game, placing it very high on his personal list of the best board games of all time.

“I still recommend this, if you like heavier games. Age of Steam is one of the few games I haven’t packed away, so I hope to play a few more times in the coming months.”

“I quite enjoyed playing Age of Steam, it was tense, interactive, and at times, cutthroat.”

The reviewer is highly impressed with "Age of Steam," considering it one of their happier finds. They highlight its brutal yet engaging gameplay with strong direct player interaction, while also noting its good components and relative accessibility compared to other games from the same publisher.

The reviewer highly praises Age of Steam as a brutal yet fascinating economic puzzle with immense replayability due to its varied maps, striking a balance between heavy economic simulations and more accessible route-building games.

“In conclusion, Age of Steam is a standout board game that delivers a captivating and immersive experience. With its intricate mechanics, high-quality components, engaging player interaction, and endless replayability, this game offers something for every board game enthusiast.”

“It was an outstanding experience. The map was great, the XL version is much more enjoyable to physically play with than I had expected, and this is where my standing and pacing for the day… for the con… started.”

The reviewer highlights "Age of Steam" as a tight economic pick-up-and-deliver game offering significant depth and replayability, especially with its numerous map expansions and "deluxified" content being a key draw for continued engagement.

The reviewer presents Age of Steam as a classic and often brutal train game that requires careful strategic and economic management, noting its enduring appeal across various editions and maps.

“The game is pretty good though. I have since played heavier games like 1846 and lighter games like Mini Rails. This slots right in there alongside all the other medium/heavy Euros.”

“I like it, but prefer other games over it (particularly now that I’m playing more 18XX games). That said, Age of Steam is such an easy game to teach that I will keep my review copy mainly because I’ll happily play it as a shorter alternative to 18XX games.”

Tom Vasel gives Age of Steam a rating of 6.0, indicating it's a fine game, though he ultimately prefers Steam for its more streamlined gameplay and smaller table footprint in this comparison, while acknowledging Age of Steam's vast array of expansions.