Iberian Gauge is a cube rails economic game set in 19th Century Spain where players invest in train companies and build rail routes. Players must expand their railway networks while managing stock values, as failure to expand will cause stock prices to fall and lead to ruin.
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The Verdict
based on 13 reviews
The reviewers highly recommend Iberian Gauge as a cooperative and friendly game within the Iron Rail series, praising its easy-to-teach rules, high interactivity, and ability to deliver a full gaming experience in about an hour, though they noted the paper money exchange can be tedious.
The Game Boy Geek highly praises Iberian Gauge for its significant depth and intense player interaction, finding it a brilliant train game despite minor component quality concerns like fiddly money and bland aesthetics.
The reviewer highly praises Iberian Gauge as a very cool game, appreciating its lighter approach to economic simulation compared to heavier 18xx titles, making it an enjoyable experience.
“Iberian Gauge refuses to bite off more than it can chew, either in length or as a depiction of stock manipulation and rail leasing. This is premier Holland, all the enthralling intersecting goals between players, only a portion of the brittleness found in Trans-Siberian. This time, the proportions are just right.”
“Iberian Gauge is a great entry point for gamers who want to dip their toes into train games, and a solid title for experienced players who are looking for a quick locomotive fix.”
“Iberian Gauge really feels like a light 18xx game for a group that really wants a taste of that style of gameplay in under an hour. Highly recommended!!”
The reviewer found "Iberian Gauge" to be consistently enthralling and potentially their favorite Cube Rails game, despite noting that its simulationist nature can sometimes be a fault and that individual choices may feel less impactful. They also acknowledged that while it's a great experience, its replayability might last for about five sessions.
The game provides a uniquely engaging and cutthroat economic experience, which one reviewer considered highly enjoyable for several plays, while the other enthusiastically praised it as a great game overall.
The reviewers highlight Iberian Gauge as a quick, engaging train game that effectively integrates 18XX-style economic mechanics, particularly noting the interesting dynamic where company funds are distinct and can be intentionally depleted, leading to a compelling strategic balancing act.
The Board Game Barrage hosts described Iberian Gauge as a simple yet engaging economic train game from the Iron Rails series, focusing on investing in companies, managing their treasuries, and strategically building tracks. Its appearance on a 'Top 50 Games of All-Time' list further indicates a highly positive reception.
The reviewers offered varied opinions on Iberian Gauge, with two finding it to be a good, concise economic game that fits well into a collection and offers sufficient strategic depth. The third reviewer had a less favorable experience, citing issues with the game's economic logic and a dry theme.
The reviewers described Iberian Gauge as a fascinating economic cube rails game that skillfully blends cooperative expansion with opportunities for cutthroat sabotage, offering deep strategy despite its straightforward rules. While one reviewer appreciated the game's aggressive nature, the other found its 'meanness' less appealing, though both acknowledged its unique design.
“If you’re a fan of economic games with a stock-trading element, I do still recommend Iberian Gauge, even though I think Irish Gauge has better mechanics thanks to the auction. Serious gamers might recognize this as an 18xx game, games that involve buying stock in train lines and often have playing times of three to six hours.”
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