Family Game #2

In Circus Train you are the owner and operator of a small circus train in prohibition-era America. Through clever card hand management, you control the movement of your train around the American northeast, making strategic business decisions about talent, performances and payroll in this fast-paced strategy game.

Circus Train includes a wonderfully competitive 2-player standard game, and a tense solitaire version where money is a very tight resource indeed. Optional rules add all of the additional flavor and randomness that game aficionados appreciate.

• Performing shows where demand emerges!
• Add talent to your trains such as clowns, acrobats, freak shows, big cats, and elephants!
• Carefully manage monthly payroll and make your circus profitable!

Inspired by Sara Gruen’s novel, Circus Train includes thematic elements such as improving your show’s reputation by picking up alcohol for your talent and staff (legally, in Canada), the high costs of supplying big cats and elephants, and the ability to “red light” (firing by throwing off the train) disgruntled talent or talent that has simply become too expensive to maintain. These elements are blended into the game’s mechanics, keeping it all simple while adding layers of depth and strategy.

Each turn represents one week of real time, and after six months, the circus season closes for the year and the game ends with one player declared as having The Greatest Show on Earth.

Number of Players: 1 or 2
Ages: 12 and up
Playing Time: approximately 50 minutes
Complexity: 3 on a 9 scale
Solitaire Suitability: 7 on a 9 scale
Scale: Weekly turns; bi-monthly pay days and one performance city per turn.

•    One color Rules booklet
•    40 color Circus and City cards
•    108 color, die-cut 3/4” mounted pieces
•    20 color die-cut 1/2” mounted pieces
•    One 11” x 17” color game map
•    1 Player Aid sheet

Game Design: Tom Decker
Rules and Development: Chris Taylor
Game Map: Tim Allen
Graphics: Chris Taylor
Playtesting: Paul Aceto, Ian & Natalie Barrett, Douglas Catchpole, Alex & Hayden Decker, Vince Denardo, David Elles, Scott Everts, Timothy Hing, Mike Galandiuk, Matt King, Roger Mason, Joe Miranda, Neil Morgan, Stephanie Newland, Mark O’Green, Carl Paradis, Steve Pozun, Blaise & Tara Sciurba, Chris Taylor
Proofreading: 

Suggested Price: $37.95