Network and Route Building in Board Games
What is Network and Route Building?
Network and Route Building is a board game mechanic where players create paths or connections between different points on the game board. The goal is to construct a continuous network that meets certain game objectives, such as connecting distant cities or acquiring resources.
Strategic Importance
This mechanic promotes planning and foresight, as players must consider the optimum layout of their network to maximize points, efficiency, or resource access. Controlling key routes can be both an offensive and defensive strategy, as players can connect their own network or block opponents.
Famous Examples
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Ticket to Ride: Players collect train cards of specific colors to claim railway routes on a map.
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Power Grid: Players build energy networks, managing resources to power the most cities.
Player Interaction
Route building often involves direct competition for pathways, which can lead to a tactical play where players try to anticipate and counter each other's strategies.
Conclusion
Network and Route Building is a crucial mechanic in board games that leads to engaging and challenging gameplay, encouraging players to think strategically and adapt to dynamic game states.
Strategy Game with Network and Route Building
Network and Route Building and Flip and Write games
Solo / Solitaire Game with Network and Route Building
Network and Route Building games published by Queen Games
Network and Route Building games designed by Alan R. Moon
Network and Route Building games published by Galápagos Jogos
Spies / Secret Agents themed games with Network and Route Building
Spy Connection
-58%
$32.99
$14.00
You are spies, each with a network of agents completing missions in up to 12 European cities for your employers. With our agents' help, you must create a network of secure connections between cities. Or send you agents to headquarters to plan new missions...
mixed, 62%
8 y/o +
2 to 4 players
30 minutes
Light
Spies / Secret Agents
Cold war
Network and Route Building
Open Drafting
Point to Point Movement
Dice Game with Network and Route Building
Network and Route Building and Action Retrieval games
Card Game with Network and Route Building
Network and Route Building games published by Heidelberger Spieleverlag
As the leader of an ancient civilization, explore unknown lands in order to develop your empire. Found new cities and construct buildings in order to exploit natural resources, establish trade routes. Set out to conquer barbarian villages, or increase...
Deus
$24.95
In Ora & Labora, each player is the head of a monastery in the Medieval era who acquires land and constructs buildings – small enterprises that will gain resources and profit. The goal is to build a working infrastructure and manufacture prestigious...
Ora & Labora (3rd Edition)
$54.95
Network and Route Building and Hand Management games
Network and Route Building games published by Korea Boardgames
Network and Route Building games published by Elephant Laboratories
Sol - Last Days of a Star
$95.00
Sol is a race against time, carefully balanced with a fresh engine-building mechanic uniquely rooted in mutual benefit and competition. Each game of Sol begins as an open starscape, ripe for emerging interdependent networks and careful planning at every...
mostly positive, 73%
10 y/o +
1 to 5 players
45 minutes
Involved
Cooperative Game
Science Fiction
Action Points
Area Movement
Movement Points
Network and Route Building
Network and Route Building games published by Maldito Games
Network and Route Building and Stock Holding games
Railroad construction in the Austrian-Hungary monarchy – as a director of several railroad companies you will build profitable networks and your shareholders will be grateful! Start with minor railways which will transform into public companies later...
1824 - Austrian-Hungary Railway
$69.95
$64.95
The island of Luzon — the largest and most populous in the Philippines — poses a series of challenges to those seeking to build a railroad network and profit from it. The island's topography is difficult to work with as large mountain ranges collide...
Luzon Rails
$90.00
$80.00
Network and Route Building games published by Blue Orange Games
Transportation themed games with Network and Route Building
Network and Route Building games designed by Anthony Amato
Lazer Ryderz
-87%
$39.95
$5.00
Once again, we find our brave Lazer Ryderz, having encountered a grouping of Teleportation Prizms, left by Ancients of a by-gone era. Each Ryder knows what must be done — coordinates must be locked into three Prizms to allow transport to their next ...
mixed, 59%
14 y/o +
2 players
30 minutes
Light
Science Fiction
Maze
Chaining
Movement Template
Network and Route Building
Race
Network and Route Building games published by 999 Games
Network and Route Building games published by Flatlined Games
SteamRollers
-82%
$49.95
$9.00
Build your rail empire and be the first to get delivery contracts! In SteamRollers, players use "roll & write" to build the best railway network, upgrade their engine, and beat their opponents to the most lucrative cargo deliveries. Make smart use of...
mixed, 60%
10 y/o +
1 to 5 players
30 minutes
Relaxed
Strategy Game
Trains
Dice Rolling
Network and Route Building
Open Drafting
Paper-and-Pencil
Network and Route Building games illustrated by Liam Relph
Sub Terra II: Inferno's Edge
$55.00
$49.60
Sub Terra II: Inferno's Edge is a cooperative adventure board game. You and up to five friends must explore a tile-based volcano temple to steal a legendary artifact. To get it, you must find the path to the inner sanctum, unlock the secrets within, ...
mostly positive, 77%
10 y/o +
1 to 6 players
60 minutes
Relaxed
Cooperative Game
Adventure
Exploration
Action Points
Dice Rolling
Grid Movement
Map Addition