Age of Rail: South Africa

Experience the thrill of the railroads with Age of Rail: South Africa, the fourth installment in the acclaimed "Iron Rail" series from Capstone Games. This exciting game is a modern take on the classic South African Railroads, which itself was a comprehensive reimagining of the beloved Veld Railroads.

Your mission is simple: amass more wealth than your opponents! You’ll achieve this by holding shares in various railroad companies and earning dividend payments along the way.

The game begins with a dynamic auction for the first shares, setting the stage for an intense battle of strategy. Players will then take turns selecting from one of four diverse actions: build track, develop settlement, offer stock, and pay dividends. Each action is carefully curated to keep players engaged. For example, there is only a single opportunity to pay dividends, meaning this action temporarily locks until the player’s next turn, compelling them to strategically choose a different path.

There are limited options for offering stock and developing settlements—two and three actions, respectively—while building track can be repeated endlessly, allowing for flexibility in your resource management and planning.

When players invest in stocks, their funds enrich the company’s treasury, which in turn fuels the construction of new tracks. As settlements are developed, the station values continue to soar, allowing railroads to generate even greater income when they connect to these vital hubs. Dividends are then calculated by dividing the company's income by the total number of shares in circulation, rewarding those who hold shares with their rightful earnings.

The game concludes after the sixth dividend is paid, but there’s a twist! The final payout not only includes bonuses based on the number of corporate links but is distributed solely based on the shares issued, excluding any unsold shares.

Challenge your friends to the ultimate train-building experience and strategize your way to financial dominance in Age of Rail: South Africa!