18EM (2025)

18EM or 18 East Midlands is a classic 18xx style game that involves railway expansion across the East Midlands in the 19th century. Just like a regular 18xx game, the winner is determined by the player with the most wealth at the end of the game, usually determined by a combination of money and stocks. Players have standard stock rounds followed by up to 3 operating rounds. During stock rounds, players act as investors and can buy and sell shares in the various companies that are in play. This effectively puts money into company coffers but can also change ownership of a company or devalue the stock price. There are also up to 3 operating rounds, where players who have most shares in a company can lay track, place stations and buy trains. Those trains can then run to generate revenue that is either paid out to shareholders (to increase the stock value) or withheld, lowering the stock price, but also providing the company with much needed money. 18EM does have some unique features, such as the absence of private companies. It also features a unique capitalization system, with each player being given the ability to start a company in the very first round. These elements should appeal to both experienced 18xx players as well as newcomers to this category. —description from the designer