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Mass Transit (2020) is a cooperative card game where you build transit routes to deliver six commuters safely home from work. You place cards around a hub to build routes or discard them to move the commuters forward. It is a game about unintended consequences, one small decision can leave routes incomplete and commuters stuck languishing in traffic.
Each turn you play 2-4 cards to extend the six routes. To be effective you have to match up the three different transit methods: bus, rail or waterway. To move commuters along routes you create you discard a card, but must be careful to pick the right mode of transport if the routes are still under construction.
As you play, the routes become longer and more complex, until you reach the suburb card. Once this is done, the focus switches to getting the commuters home, using stations to switch modes of transport tactically along the way. Get all six commuters home and you all win the game.
This sounds like an easy proposition, but the cards are carefully balanced between those that help and hinder you. Some contain traffic that slows down your commuters, some have to be played immediately and some only have limited powers or limited numbers. Add to this the fact that you are not allowed to communicate directly with each other. All this means that what starts as a simple card-laying game, quickly becomes a fraught balance between success and immediate crashing failure.
Our examiner, Rob Prior, first checked Mass Transit 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 9 days ago.
Each turn you play 2-4 cards to extend the six routes. To be effective you have to match up the three different transit methods: bus, rail or waterway. To move commuters along routes you create you discard a card, but must be careful to pick the right mode of transport if the routes are still under construction.
As you play, the routes become longer and more complex, until you reach the suburb card. Once this is done, the focus switches to getting the commuters home, using stations to switch modes of transport tactically along the way. Get all six commuters home and you all win the game.
This sounds like an easy proposition, but the cards are carefully balanced between those that help and hinder you. Some contain traffic that slows down your commuters, some have to be played immediately and some only have limited powers or limited numbers. Add to this the fact that you are not allowed to communicate directly with each other. All this means that what starts as a simple card-laying game, quickly becomes a fraught balance between success and immediate crashing failure.
Our examiner, Rob Prior, first checked Mass Transit 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 9 days ago.
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Play Style
This is a Brain Game and Traversal game with Sequencing, Strategy and World Building elements. You can play with 1 to 6 players in the same room.
You can play this game in the following styles:
Duration
Learn to Play: This takes 20 minutes to learn. Learning how the cards interact with each other and the unintended consequences of placement, take a bit of time and experimentation.
When you first play:
Play Time: This game will take between 15 minutes and 20 minutes to complete. You start by piecing the city together, placing the Commuter Figures in their workspaces, shuffling the deck and dealing each player four cards. The rest of the cards are placed into the city space as a draw pile. Each card features an overhead map of three transit routes, with stops and traffic, which can be played to extend routes. They also display rules for discarding that allow you to play them to move the commuters.
When you first play:
- Play the first game open-handed, so you can discuss each move.
- Be aware of the numbers of each card in the deck, so you know which resources are more finite.
- Be careful to use the walk cards only when needed.
Play Time: This game will take between 15 minutes and 20 minutes to complete. You start by piecing the city together, placing the Commuter Figures in their workspaces, shuffling the deck and dealing each player four cards. The rest of the cards are placed into the city space as a draw pile. Each card features an overhead map of three transit routes, with stops and traffic, which can be played to extend routes. They also display rules for discarding that allow you to play them to move the commuters.
Benefits
This game is good if you want to:
Age Ratings
Skill Level
6+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. As this is a co-operative game, younger players can be supported with communication during the first few games.
Content Rating
We rate this suitable for 3+ years-olds.
Game Details
Release Date: 01/01/2020
Skill Rating: 6+ year-olds
Players: 1-6
Genres: Brain Game, Traversal (Sequencing, Strategy and World Building)
Accessibility: 0 features documented (Tweet Developer )
Components: Cards and Figures
Developer: @Calliope Games (@CalliopeGames)
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