Trains & Cargo

What is it?

A card game based around collecting cargo and sending it off on your train to score points. Manipulate the market by changing the values of different types of cargo. It takes a turn to send your train off and ideally you'll do it when the cargo it carries is the most valuable — which is easier said than done!

Free of play money — that's a promise!

A goal when creating Trains & Cargo was to not make it yet another "sell goods for money, use your money to buy more goods" kind of game. To solve this, the economy aspect has been greatly reduced — you are limited by the cards in your hand, not by how much you have previously scored/earned. This keeps the game balanced and fun.

A choice of actions

There are three types of cards and you are allowed to play one of each every turn: collect cargo, manipulate the market, and use special effect cards to bend the rules.

The effect cards are the backbone of many fun strategies. From simple things like sending an opponents train off at a bad time (when the cargo is less valuable) or loading cargo onto your own train and sending it off during the same turn (before an opponent gets the chance to drop the value), to advanced things like combining the "Unlimited" card — which allows you to play as many cards of the same type as you like — with other effect cards for some elaborate and satisfying in-your-face moves.

Team play

While the game is great with 2, 3 or 4 players individually, Trains & Cargo is also fantastic as a team game — 4 or 6 players in teams of two each. Players collect cargo individually but share the same train. Cooperation is crucial as you want to hinder your opponents but help your team mate.

The Route Boards add-on

Add an additional layer to your game with the Route Boards add-on — already included in the box!

Load your cargo onto the board and receive bonuses for certain cargo. Routes include the "Countryside Route", "City Route" and "Industrial Mountain Route". Some rule changes apply that make the game fun and varied, greatly enhancing replayability!

What's in the box?

• 124 cards — 40 Cargo Cards, 48 Market Cards, 36 Effect Cards
• 192 Cargo Tokens — 8 colors, 24 of each
• 6 locomotive figures (two orange, four green)
• 1 Market Board
• 8 Wooden Cargo Cubes
• 3 Route Boards
• 1 Rule Booklet