Whistle Stop Board Game First Impressions

Whistle Stop is an action point allowance, pick up and deliver game.

This is a brief video overview.

With the driving of the golden spike in 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed in the United States — but really it was only the beginning of a rapid expansion of railways that would crisscross the entire country.

In Whistle Stop, you make your way west across the country, using your fledgeling railroad company to build routes, pick up valuable cargo, and deliver needed goods to growing towns, creating a network of whistle stops that you and your competitors can leverage as you continue to expand your networks. Along the way, you gain shares in other railroads and watch your reputation soar with each successful delivery before making a final push to complete long hauls to the boom towns of the West.

Whistle Stop Review

This is a brief overview of the rules then I give my thoughts on it.

0:20 – Overview
0:50 – Game Play
9:01 – Summary

TL:DR Players move trains to collect good cubs which can be used for upgrades and trading.

Update July 2018

I had such high hopes for this. It looked really nice and the tile laying looked like it was going to be fun.

Bezier has sent me up and down with games like Suburbia and One Night Ultimate which I love. Then there was Colony and Favor of the Pharaoh which were some of the worst games I’ve ever played. Well, to be fair, the latter isn’t too bad it’s just an awfully long setup and tear-down time for an average game.

So Whistle Stop is cute, it has route building, tile laying and other things I like. It all comes together well and is quite enjoyable. I just didn’t like it. It wasn’t working and I wasn’t alone around the table.

It’s one of those games that lacks that ‘thing’ that makes games fun. A bit of uniqueness, a bit of soul, something.

Components

The trains look like those little chalky sweets that I like. The board is colourful and easy to read.

The way the ability cogs slot into the player boards is really clever. Everything else is pretty standard but you can’t complain about the components and artwork.

I think I’d rather play Ticket to Ride or Age of Steam over this.

Also, if I wanted to play a route-building game with a cutesy look I’d go for Via Nebula from Martin Wallace.

Just too many options for games to be average in 2017/2018.

Jesta ThaRogue