Railways of the Lost Atlas

My 18XX festival began with Railways of the Lost Atlas, which arrived literally on the day I was packing to leave. The idea of a train game in a “fantastical” world is already a welcome change of scenery, but the game does not stop there: it felt to me like a very carefully considered, modern 18XX.

The companies and privates remain fixed, while the map is never entirely the same because the players build it themselves. That semi-random layout changes the landscape across which networks will spread each time, making development a matter of adaptation rather than memorising a predetermined geography.

Even though it follows a more modern philosophy with a round cap, I did not find it relaxed at all. The train rushes are quite tight and the broader “karate” is still there, so players continue to put pressure on one another through the pace and consequences of their choices. It reminded me a little of Steam over Holland, only this is a much beefier experience.

I liked it a lot, and it will definitely return to the table soon. For me, it already takes a very high place among introductory 18XX games: modern enough to ease you into the mood, yet tight enough to remind you that you are playing an 18XX.