Great Western Trail (2016)

How To Play Great Western Trail

Turns in Great Western Trail are broken into three simple phases that will carry you through the entire game. These simple phases belie a web of deep and complex decisions players will face as they make their way down the trail. The mechanics are simple, but mastering the trail is where the fun lies.

Make Your Move!

A turn starts by moving your cattleman down the trail. The number of spaces a player is allowed to move is dictated by their player board, and there are hazards a plenty all along the trail. Wherever you end up, the next phase is…

Take Action!

When a player ends their movement, they perform the action listed on the space they ended on. Depending on where you land, you will have different options available to you. Neutral locations or buildings you own will allow you to perform a special action specific to that location or a single auxiliary action. On locations owned by other players, hazard tiles, or teepee tiles, your only option is to use an auxiliary action. Last, there’s Kansas City!

Kansas City or Bust!

Landing on Kansas City sets off a series of subphases that must be resolved in order: Three Foresight phases, the Income Phase, and the Delivery Phase. The Foresight subphases give players a choice between two tiles to add to the board (hazard, teepee, or worker). These tiles will affect future trips down the trail, so choose wisely. Earn income from your journey down the trail by revealing and discarding your hand. Finally, choose a city to deliver your cattle to. This leg of your journey is over. Now it’s time to do it all again!

Draw!

Draw up to your hand limit and your turn is over! Time to start planning your next move and figure out the choices you’ll face in the coming turns.

Great Western Trail Review

“Great Western Trail is an amazing game. It deviates from traditional heavy strategy game patterns such as managing an economic empire or developing a company or country. The simplistic nature of moving a herd (hand) of cattle and making the best choices along the way is an uncommon economic engine, but player engagement and strategic choices are heavily layered into every action. This makes it an immensely fun experience with every play.”

Tahsin Shamma, boardgamequest.com

“Great Western Trail is a masterful amalgamation of deckbuilding, hand management, tile laying, building management, economic strategy and more, which always feels hearty and fulfilling to play, rather than tiresome and convoluted. Although the mechanics come first, the historical theme and setting permeates the gameplay, providing a richly engrossing experience – even more impressive given that repetition is a core element. It’s a journey you shouldn’t hesitate to set out on.”

Matt Jarvis, tabletopgaming.co.uk

The content of this article is originally from Board Game Geek and timelessboardgames.co.za. For more information and a better understanding of the game, you can watch the videos below.