Maglev Metro

Maglev Metro was an easy purchase of confidence: Alspach, Bezier, and a magnetic railway theme is a combination that at least makes one open the box in good spirits. The physical production does not let that down. It is a well-made game, and its overall structure makes its intentions clear from the outset. The rules are lucid and the flow is sensible, although the transparent tiles are a slightly awkward piece of table information.

At heart, this is an honest pick-and-deliver game joined to network building. You programme actions, extend your network, and move passengers, trying to make each route serve more than one purpose rather than merely circulating around the map.

Passengers are not simply cargo: basic passengers become resources that add capabilities to your train, while advanced ones open scoring routes. The interesting decision is when to invest in improving your engine and when to pursue scoring opportunities, across maps and openings that can sometimes feel rather too prescribed.

That is also where Maglev Metro falls short of the completeness of Suburbia and related Alspach designs. The criticism is understandable; the sense of a scripted opening did not vanish with later plays. Still, the system remains pleasing and sufficiently clean that I am happy to bring it back to the table. Viard's Tramways is the stronger comparison for this sort of design, though it is several weight classes heavier.

Updated session

Later plays confirmed rather than reversed my first impression: I still like the base Maglev Metro, even though its limitations are now easier to see. Map Pack I sat comfortably with that experience, but the maps in the second map pack—particularly the changes they make to the base rules—stretch the design beyond the point at which it remains elegant. The base Maglev Metro is worth a look for anyone drawn to pick-and-deliver and action programming; the second map pack is a purchase only for the truly committed.