Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
If you enjoy farm-themed games with light strategy, Riverboat will win you over with its phase‑draft and harvest organization.
Highlights
- Smooth phase drafting
- Simple worker allocation
- Thematic artwork
Keep in mind
- Phase repetition may tire
- Low learning curve
Rules manual not indexed yet
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Riverboat puts each player in the shoes of a 19th‑century farm owner on the banks of the Mississippi River. Your goal is to arrange workers so that fields are ordered by crop type, harvested at the right moment, and then loaded onto boats bound for New Orleans. The game unfolds over four rounds; each round starts with an open draft of phase cards. Players pick cards until they run out, and the numeric order of the phases determines the action sequence, with the player who chose the phase acting first. In phase one, workers are placed on fields using an identical set of colored tiles, but each player gets a random layout. Phase two is about organizing the plantations, grouping identical crops; some fields need two or three workers to be complete. Phase three handles harvesting and loading the boats: a dock can only be filled when all goods of a single type are present. In the final phase, boats are launched and players may take special actions that can grant extra victory points. The game blends action drafting, hexagonal tile placement, set collection, and worker allocation in a relaxed (weight 2.9) pace that suits both newcomers and agricultural‑theme enthusiasts. With solid components and artwork evoking the American Old West, Riverboat delivers a light‑strategic experience packed with meaningful choices about harvest order and resource use.
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
Best player count
BGG community vote
2
REC
3
REC
4
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Lookout Games, Mayfair Games, SD Games
Designer
Michael Kiesling
Artist
Klemens Franz
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
5,000owners
757wishlist
146want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How many players can play?
2 to 4 players.
What is the playing time?
Approximately 90 minutes.
How complex is the game?
BGG weight 2.9 – easy to moderate.
What components are included?
Hexagonal field tiles, phase cards, worker tokens, boats, cargo markers, and a river board.
Who is Riverboat best suited for?
Fans of farm-themed games, action drafting, and light strategic decisions.
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