String Railway

OKAZU Brand, asmodee, ぶんぶんゲームズ (Bunbun Games) · Board game · 2009
6.5 Ludopedia 6.3 BGG 2–5 · best 4 30 min Weight 1.4/5
Buy · from US$ 39.78
6.5 rating Ludopedia
6.3 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

If you like light train games and want a visually different experience, you'll love the simplicity of String Railway.

Highlights
  • Eye‑catching components
  • Fast, easy rules
  • Short playtime
Keep in mind
  • Limited strategic depth
  • Blocking can feel harsh
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About the game

What you do in a play session

String Railway is a train game that swaps the usual square board for colorful strings to lay down your railway. The setup begins by placing a large loop of string on the table, defining the play area. Then a smaller closed loop represents mountains and a straight line of string acts as a river, adding natural obstacles that shape where you can extend your network. Each player gets two starter stations, spaced evenly around the big circle. On your turn you draw a station tile, place it on a free spot, and then try to lay a railroad string between this new station and one of your existing ones. Points are earned only when stations are linked by a continuous route, so the core strategy is choosing station locations and drawing tracks while trying to block opponents. The game runs for five rounds; after the fifth turn the player with the most victory points – earned from connected stations – wins. With easy‑to‑learn rules, quick 30‑minute plays, and eye‑catching components, String Railway is perfect for casual gamers, newcomers, or anyone looking for a fresh twist on train games. Though it feels light, the need to plan routes and interfere with rivals adds a tactical layer that keeps the tension alive until the final turn.

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

2 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–5 players
2 OK
3 REC
4 BEST
5 REC

Soundtrack

Ambience suggested by Melodice

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Components: String Organizations: Forgenext
Publisher OKAZU Brand, asmodee, ぶんぶんゲームズ (Bunbun Games), FoxMind, Japon Brand
Designer Hisashi Hayashi
Artist Franck Dion, Jaouen Salaun, Ryo Nyamo

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

3,006owners
575wishlist
132want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

7 questions
How many players can play?
2 to 5 players.
How long does a game take?
About 30 minutes.
What is the game’s complexity level?
Low; the core rule is drawing and placing stations and linking them with strings.
What components are included?
Colored strings, tokens, station tiles, and a scoring board.
Is it beginner‑friendly?
Absolutely; the rules are straightforward and the visual components make it easy to follow.
Is there player interaction?
Yes, you can block opponents’ routes by placing your strings strategically.
What if I can’t connect a station?
The station stays isolated and won’t score points until you manage to connect it in later turns.

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